Iranian Onobrychis carduchorum (Fabaceae) populations: morphology, ecology and phylogeography

Abstract

Aims -Iran is one of the main centres of diversity for the genus Onobrychis Miller. This study includes 55 specimens from eleven representative wild populations of Onobrychis carduchorum C.C.Towns. originating from their natural habitats in Iran. The aims of this study are to provide a detailed taxonomical, morphological, genetic and ecogeographical characterization of O. carduchorum in Iran. Methods -The specimens which represent all Iranian populations were biometrically assessed using 45 quantitative and fifteen qualitative morphological characters. The phenotypic variation among the populations depends on various environmental factors; thus at each sample site we recorded data regarding longitude, latitude, altitude, slope inclination, slope orientation, substrate, minimum and maximum annual temperatures, number of rainy days, annual precipitation as well as soil traits including texture, electrical conductivity, organic carbon, total nitrogen, available phosphorus, available potassium, total neutralizing value, pH, and saturation percentage. The floristic composition of each population habitat was examined as an indicator of environmental conditions. To assess genetic variation, we obtained nucleotide sequence data from the internal transcribed spacer of the nuclear ribosomal DNA (ITS) and carried out genomic fingerprints using inter-simple sequence repeat (ISSR) analysis. Results -Cluster analysis of morphological characters showed that the eleven populations could be divided into two major groups including five subgroups. Principal component analysis (PCA) of floristic data confirmed the two major morphological groups suggesting habitudinal segregation among the groups and the indicative value of floristic composition of study sites in assessing intraspecific variation in the target species. Furthermore, canonical correspondence analysis (CCA) of ecogeographic data showed correlations between morphological variations and ecogeographic factors. Longitude, latitude, substrate, available potassium, clay%, total nitrogen, organic carbon, slope orientation, sand%, texture, altitude and rainy days are apparently the main environmental variables associated with morphological groups of O. carduchorum. Both ITS and ISSR data indicate that O. carduchorum is a young species with a recent divergence of its populations.

An overview on cytogenetics of the genusOnobrychis(Fabaceae) with special reference toO.sect.Hymenobrychisfrom Iran

“…However, the number of species of this genus in Iranian flora is about 65 (Ranjbar et al 2004(Ranjbar et al , 2007Ranjbar 2009;Ranjbar et al 2010a;Ranjbar et al 2010c). The taxonomy of the genus continues to be subject of much confusion, mainly because of the different approaches to species delimitation, resulting in varying numbers of recognized species (Boissier 1872;Sirjaev 1925;Hedge 1970;Ball 1978;Duman and Vural 1990;Aktoklu 2001;Ranjbar et al 2004Ranjbar et al , 2007Ranjbar et al , 2011Ranjbar et al , 2012Ranjbar 2009;Ranjbar et al 2009f;Ranjbar et al 2010aRanjbar et al , 2010bToluei et al 2012Toluei et al , 2013.…”

Chemical Composition and In Vitro Evaluation of Antioxidant and Antiproliferative Effects of Volatile Oils Hydrodistilled from Onobrychis carduchorum C.C. Towns., a Kurdish Traditional Plant

“…O. carduchorum , together with O. altissima Grossh., is also mentioned in a detailed survey of medicinal plants used in the Çatak region of Turkey, where the two plants are traditionally used to cure hemorrhages, wounds, and cuts [ 7 ]. The morphological, taxonomical, genetic, and ecogeographical characteristics of O. carduchorum are well described in the literature [ 8 ]. Thus, O. carduchorum is easily distinguished from other species belonging to the Onobrychis sect.…”

Cytotoxic, Anti-bacterial, and Wound-healing Activity of Prenylated Phenols from the Kurdish Traditional Medicinal Plant Onobrychis Carduchorum (Fabaceae)

“…This sector of the Middle East supports a wide number of endemic Fabaceae, probably allied to steppe climates. The genus Onobrychis Miller has its main diversity center in SW Asia [1]. Onobrychis carduchorum Towns.…”

“…is an Irano-Turanian perennial herb, diffused in Eastern Turkey, Northern Syria, N Iraq. and NW Iran [1]. The detailed survey by Mükemre et al [2] on the medicinal plants used in the Çatak region (Turkey) cites two species of Onobrychis, Onobrychis carduchorum and Onobrychis altissima Grossh.…”