Systematic and molecular biological study of Sambucus L. (Caprifoliaceae) in Iran

Abstract

Sambucus is a medicinal plant with approximately 25 accepted taxa in the world from which two are present in Iran, S. nigra and S. ebulus. In order to evaluate the affinities and relationships in Sambucus and resurrect subspecies or verities in these two species, the micro-morphological, anatomical and molecular properties of Sambucus species of Iran have been studied. Pollen and seed surfaces of two species were examined with scanning electron microscope. In micro-morphological studies, the pollen shape is prolate-spheroidal in S. nigra but subprolate in S. ebulus. The exine sculpture is microperforate in S. nigra and is reticulate-microechinate in S. ebulus. The surface of the seed in S. nigra is smooth, not elongated and no clear organizational pattern is discernable and the anticlinal walls are shallowly undulate. In S. ebulus, the seeds have a microperforate surface and the anticlinal walls are observed deeply undulate. Petiole anatomical studies show that vascular bundles and existence of druse crystals are diagnostic characters in studied species. Using nuclear (nrDNA ITS) marker, we reconstructed phylogenetic relationships within two species of Sambucus. The ITS dataset was analyzed by phylogenetic methods including Bayesian inference, maximum likelihood and maximum parsimony. In phylogenetic analyses, all members of this genus form a well-supported clade (PP = 1, ML/BS = 100/100). The Sambucus clade is composed of two clades. Clade I includes the populations of S. nigra and the clade II comprises the rest of the species of Sambucus (S. ebulus). NeighborNet diagram demonstrated separation of the studied populations. In general, molecular studies supported micro-morphological findings. Pollen, seed-coat characters and molecular phylogeny support the separation of S. nigra and S. ebulus .

Comparative chloroplast genome analysis of Sambucus L. (Viburnaceae): inference for phylogenetic relationships among the closely related Sambucus adnata Wall. ex DC Sambucus javanica Blume

“…Sambucus L. is a relatively small genus in the family Viburnaceae consisting of small trees, deciduous shrubs, and/or perennial herbs (Amini et al, 2019). They are highly distributed in the temperate and subtropical regions of the Northern Hemisphere with some species extending toward the Southern Hemisphere, surrounding both the high and low latitudes areas of North America, Asia, Europe, Northern Africa, West Indies, Eastern and South-eastern Australia, and the Andean region of South America (Figure 1).…”

Levels and sources of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) near hospitals and schools using leaves and barks of Sambucus nigra and Acacia melanoxylon

“…However, values of some of these characteristics for these two tree species are reported in the literature. For example, the stomatal density on the abaxial surface of leaves of S. nigra was reported to be in the range of 71–139.32 mm 2 (Amini et al, 2021 ; Atkinson & Atkinson, 1958 ), while that of A. melanoxylon was reported to be in the range of 306 – 473 mm 2 (Scarr, 2011). Stomatal density has a high significant effect on the uptake rate of PAHs (Tao & Hornbuckle, 2001 ) and has been found to be positively (Fellet et al, 2016 ) and negatively (Tian et al, 2019 ), correlated with the content of PAHs.…”

Foliar epidermal and trichome micromorphological diversity among poisonous plants and their taxonomic significance

“…Koyuncu et al (2008) recorded polygonal epidermal cells with anisocytic stomata in P. harmala, while the present study described anomocytic stomata, showing slight deviations from prior work. Amini et al (2019) examined the foliar cross-section of S. nigra and observed parenchyma cells and vascular bundles. Atkinson and Atkinson (2002) examined the high density of stomata on the abaxial surface and the absence of stomata on the adaxial surface.…”