Conservation genetics of Sinai’s remnant populations of Moringa peregrina, an economically valuable medicinal plant

Abstract

Moringa peregrina is an economically valuable tree of Egyptian deserts. It is used medicinally, provides a highly nutritious supplement to Bedouin diets, provides fodder for livestock, and is used for fire wood. M. peregrina seeds have been a source of high-quality oil for cosmetics and perfumes since antiquity. Due to unmanaged grazing and over-collection, M. peregrina has become one of the most endangered tree species in the Egyptian desert ecosystem. A long-term conservation program is urgently needed to maintain or increase the number and size of M. peregrina populations. Ten populations harboring a total of 130 adult M. peregrina were sampled from three disjunct Wadis in South Sinai (W. Me'ar, W. Fieran and W. Zaghra). Open-pollinated seedlings were electrophoretically analyzed to address two basic questions: (1) how is genetic diversity distributed within and among populations within these three Wadis; and (2) what is the mating system of this species. M. peregrina has a mixed mating system with a selfing rate up to 16% and has limited genetic diversity within and significant genetic differentiation among its populations, the majority of which occurs among Wadis. Direct protection is urgently needed to decrease genetic deterioration within M. peregrina populations and to improve their ability to maintain or improve their population numbers. The priority of in situ conservation should be to conserve a few large well-distributed populations representing different Wadis. Ex situ germplasm collections should be made across the species' range to ensure a representative sample of its genetic variation. Seed orchards designed to maximize cross-fertilization among unrelated individuals should be established to generate propagules to supplement natural populations.

Genetic Diversity and Inbreeding Level of Cotoneaster orbicularis Schltdl. in The Sinai Mountains Revealed by Microsatellite Markers and Flow Cytometry

“…Moreover, the limited distribution area of C. orbicularis resulted in only two to five alleles scored per locus (Table 1). These results are in agreement with the pattern for elevated genetic differentiation between populations of some other rare species Godt, 1989 andHamrick et al, 1992), including another plant taxa in the South Sinai region (Wolff et al, 1997;Zaghloul et al, 2012 andJimenez et al, 2014).…”

Genetic Diversity and Structure of Dalmatian Pyrethrum (Tanacetum cinerariifolium Trevir. /Sch./ Bip., Asteraceae) within the Balkan Refugium

“…Thus, this phylogeographical study could represent typical example of humans’ shaping the genetic structure of investigated plant species. The genetic impoverishment as a result of either overexploitation of wild resources or cultivation practices has also been demonstrated for American ginseng ( Panax quinquefolius L.) [35] , Rheum tanguticum [88] , Scutellaria baicalensis [37] , Eucommia ulmoides [89] , Moringa peregrina [90] , etc.…”

Characterization of the wild trees and shrubs in the Egyptian flora

“…For example, Local populations of Moringa peregrina were endangered due to over-grazing whose effects were magnified by the extreme of drought. So, failure of regeneration of new individuals, as well as high mortality rate of the old trees occur (Zaghloul et al, 2012). Habitat loss due to urbanization and tourism, clearance for agriculture and construction processes is one of the major threats which impact many species in the Egyptian flora especially in the Mediterranean region.…”

“…There are many examples of human destructive activities against the woody plants as mortality of Acacia trees which mainly associated with charcoal production in eastern desert of Egypt (Andersen & Krzywinski, 2007), over-grazing and over-cutting in Sinai, and aridity conditions and limited surface water availability in Sinai and Negev deserts (Shrestha et al, 2003;Abd El-Wahab et al, 2013). Local populations of Moringa peregrina are endangered due to over-cutting, and over-grazing whose effects are magnified by the contemporary prevailing extreme of drought (Zaghloul et al, 2012). Small populations of Juniperus phonicea at Gabal El-Maghara and Gabal Yelleq should be considered very important as they are under intensive cutting and burning and are negatively affected by drought (El-Bana et al, 2010).…”