(Article)
a Laboratory of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants, Biotechnology Center of Borj-Cedria, BP 901, Hammam-Lif, Tunisia
b Laboratory of Plant Molecular Physiology, Biotechnology Center of Borj-Cedria, BP 901, Hammam-Lif, Tunisia
b Laboratory of Plant Molecular Physiology, Biotechnology Center of Borj-Cedria, BP 901, Hammam-Lif, Tunisia
Abstract
Giant fennel (Ferula communis L.) is well known in folk medicine for the treatment of various organ disorders. The biological importance of members of genus Ferula prompted us to investigate the leaves of the endangered Tunisianmedicinal plant F. communis L. not previously investigated. An estimate of genetic diversity and differentiation between genotypes of breeding germplasm is of key importance for its improvement. Thus, four F. communis populations were RAPD fingerprinted (63 RAPD markers generated by 7 primers) and the composition of their leaf essential oils (EO) (134 EO compounds) was characterized by GC-MS. Cluster analysis based on the leaf volatiles chemical composition of F. communis accessions defined three chemotypes according to main compounds have been distinguished: α-eudesmol/β-eudesmol/γ-terpinene; α-eudesmol/α-pinene/caryophyllene oxide and chamazulene/α-humulene chemotypes. A high genetic diversity within population and high genetic differentiation among them, based on RAPDs, were revealed (Hpop = 0.320 and GST = 0.288) caused both by the habitat fragmentation, the low size of most populations and the low level of gene flow among them. The RAPD dendrogram showed separation of three groups. Populations dominated by individuals from the β-eudesmol/γ-terpinene; chemotype showed the lowest gene diversity (H = 0.104), while populations with exclusively α-pinene/caryophyllene oxide chemotype showed the highest value (H = 0.285). The UPGMA dendrogram and PCA analysis based on volatiles yielded higher separation among populations, indicated specific adaptation of populations to the local environments. Correlation analysis showed a non-significant association between the distance matrices based on the genetic markers (RAPD) and chemical compounds of essential oil (P > 0.05) indicating no influence of genetic background on the observed chemical profiles. These results reinforce the use of both volatile compounds and RAPD markers as a starting point for in situ conservation. The analysis of chemical constitution of oil of the populations from a specific region revealed predominance of specific constituents indicating possibility of their collection/selection for specific end uses like phytomedicines. Sufficient molecular and biochemical diversity detected among natural populations of this species will form the basis for the future improvement. The correlation between matrices of RAPD and essential oils was not significant. The conservation strategies of populations should be made according to their level of genetic and chemical diversity in relation to geographic location of populations. Our results give some insights into the characterization of this as yet little investigated plant. © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Author keywords
Chemotyping; Essential oils; Ferula communis (Apiaceae); Genetic variation; Hierarchical clustering analysis; Metabolite profile; PCoA; RAPD
ISSN: 00319422 CODEN: PYTCASource Type: Journal Original language: English
DOI: 10.1016/j.phytochem.2016.01.012Document Type: Article
Publisher: Elsevier Ltd
Funding Details
Sponsor: Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research
Rahali, F.Z.; Laboratory of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants, Biotechnology Center of Borj-Cedria, BP 901, Tunisia; email:fatma1707@gmail.com
© Copyright 2016 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.
© Copyright 2016 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.
