An integrated morpho‐molecular study of Salicornia (Amaranthaceae‐Chenopodiaceae) in Iran proves Irano‐Turanian region the major center of diversity of annual glasswort species

Abstract

Salicornia (Chenopodiaceae) with ca. 25-30 annual, hyperhalophytic succulent species is a taxonomically difficult subcosmopolitan genus. The taxonomic complexity arose from succulent shoots causing a lack of taxonomically useful characters, scarcity and variability of characters, and poor genetic differentiation. The Irano-Turanian region, a major center for several lineages of chenopod diversification, is also an important diversity center and more likely the center of origin of annual Salicornia. This paper presents long-term comprehensive morpho-molecular and cytological studies of the genus in Iran, as the most species-rich country in the Irano-Turanian region. We originally generated 250 sequences of one nuclear (ETS) and two plastid markers (atpB-rbcL spacer, intron rpl16). We analyzed a global ETS dataset including 257 sequences of putative 28 taxa using Bayesian inference and maximum likelihood analysis. In order to evaluate the application of plastid data in species taxonomy in annual Salicornia, we performed numerical morphological analysis (principal component analysis and agglomerative hierarchical clustering) of 186 Iranian accessions using 18 characters. Our results (1) confirm the efficiency of plastid sequences comparing to ETS sequences for clarifying species-level phylogeny of Salicornia; (2) identify the S. persica clade as a monophyletic Irano-Turanian endemic lineage; (3) recognize nine origins of the Irano-Turanian Salicornia based on nuclear ETS sequences; (4) approve the monophyly of tetraploid species using plastid sequences; (5) provide a synopsis and diagnostic key for 10 Iranian taxa of Salicornia; (6) describe S. turanica sp. nov.; (7) classify S. iranica at infraspecific level (S. iranica subsp. iranica, S. iranica subsp. rudshurensis comb. nov., S. iranica subsp. sinus-persica comb. & stat. nov.); (8) suggest three informal taxa to be studied in the future; and (9) discuss the threatened status of Salicorniadominated ecosystems in Iran.

Population Differentiation and Gene Flow of Salicornia persica Akhani (Chenopodiaceae)

“…Their result showed high polymorphic bands (94.18%), polymorphic information content (0.27), and allele number (1.38) showed SCoT as a reliable marker system for genetic analysis of this species. According to Chatrenoor & Akhani (2021) an integrated morphomolecular study of Salicornia (Amaranthaceae-Chenopodiaceae) in Iran proves Irano-Turanian region the major center of diversity of annual glasswort species. Their results (1) confirm the efficiency of plastid sequences comparing to ETS sequences for clarifying species-level phylogeny of Salicornia; (2) identify the S. persica clade as a monophyletic Irano-Turanian endemic lineage; (3) recognize nine origins of the Irano-Turanian Salicornia based on nuclear ETS sequences; (4) approve the monophyly of tetraploid species using plastid sequences.…”

Functional structure of plant communities along salinity gradients in Iranian salt marshes

“…Vegetation in this area is dominated by C 3 communities, consisting of Salicornia iranica subsp. sinus‐persica and Suaeda iranshahrii along the shores followed by C 4 rich plant zones of Bienertia sinuspersici , Limonium failachicum , Suaeda khalijefarsica , and S. fruticosa (Akhani, 2015 ; Akhani and Deil, 2012 ; Chatrenoor and Akhani, 2021 ). Our study site is in the tidal coast of the Musa estuary where the inflow of seawater causes high soil salinity.…”

“…Nomenclature is mostly based on Flora Iranica (Rechinger, 1963 ). Recent generic names were applied for some groups such as Chenopodiaceae (Akhani et al, 2007 ; Akhani, 2015 ; Hernández‐Ledesma et al, 2015 ; Rudov et al, 2020 ; Chatrenoor and Akhani, 2021 ).…”

From salt pan to saucepan: Salicornia, a halophytic vegetable with an array of potential health benefits

“…Salicornia is also called glasswort, pickleweed, sea beans, sea asparagus, or marsh samphire in the European and American regions, while in the Indian subcontinent, it is known as umari keerai. They often reach a height of 25-35 cm with succulent scale leaves (extremely reduced leaves) and spike-like terminal inflorescences (Figure 1; Chatrenoor & Akhani, 2021;D. Singh et al, 2014).…”

“…Salicornia is also called glasswort, pickleweed, sea beans, sea asparagus, or marsh samphire in the European and American regions, while in the Indian subcontinent, it is known as umari keerai. They often reach a height of 25–35 cm with succulent scale leaves (extremely reduced leaves) and spike‐like terminal inflorescences (Figure 1; Chatrenoor & Akhani, 2021; D. Singh et al., 2014). Salicornia plants are naturally propagated through seeds, and seed germination is inhibited by high saline conditions due to the osmotic effects on seed germination (Khan et al., 2000; Rivers & Weber, 1971; Song et al., 2008).…”