Analysis of intraspecific seed diversity in Astragalus aquilanus (Fabaceae), an endemic species of Central Apennine

Abstract

This work aims to study seeds of the endemic species Astragalus aquilanus from four different populations of central Italy. We investigated seed morpho-colorimetric features (shape and size) and chemical differences (through infrared spectroscopy) among populations and between dark and light seeds. Seed morpho-colorimetric quantitative variables, describing shape, size and colour traits, were measured using image analysis techniques. Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy was used to attempt seed chemical characterisation. The measured data were analysed by step-wise linear discriminant analysis (LDA). Moreover, we analysed the correlation between the four most important traits and six climatic variables extracted from WorldClim 2.0. The LDA on seeds traits shows clear differentiation of the four populations, which can be attributed to different chemical composition, as confirmed by Wilk's lambda test (P < 0.001). A strong correlation between morphometric traits and temperature (annual mean temperature, mean temperature of the warmest and coolest quarter), colorimetric traits and precipitation (annual precipitation, precipitation of wettest and driest quarter) was observed. The characterisation of A. aquilanus seeds shows large intraspecific plasticity both in morpho-colorimetric and chemical composition. These results confirm the strong relationship between the type of seed produced and the climatic variables.

Evaluación fenotípica de semillas de haba (Vicia faba L.) colectadas en Nariño-Colombia

“…se analizaron, se confirman los beneficios referidos respecto a la confiabilidad y rapidez de la metodología digital, indicados en otras investigaciones (Varga et al 2019;Di Cecco et al 2019).…”

“…Para Duc et al (2015), esta variable junto a los valores de longitud, son considerados como descriptores relevantes para la especie, lo que permite captar información de la diversidad genética entre accesiones. También, pueden ser utilizados como indicadores de selección en el mejoramiento genético, por su relación con el rendimiento en campo (Yildiz et al 2016;Di Cecco et al 2019;Alharbi & Adhikari, 2020). A partir de los valores morfológicos, las variedades Beso de novia, Argentina y Rosada fueron catalogadas como pequeñas; las variedades Semiverde, Roja y Blanca común, se agruparon con tamaño medio y la variedad Alpargata fue definida como un material de semillas grandes (Tabla 3).…”

Maximising the use of native seeds in restoration projects

“…Based on an analysis of the intraspecific plasticity exhibited in morphology, colour and chemical composition of seeds of four populations of Astragalus aquilanus , Di Cecco et al . () also concluded that climate variables strongly affect the type of seed produced. In contrast, a variation in environment associated with an altitudinal span of 1000 m had little effect on the germination of Helichrysum microphyllum , where all seed lots were non‐dormant (Picciau et al .…”

“…Di Cecco et al . () used image analysis techniques to quantify morpho‐colorimetric variables and describe shape, size and colour; and used Fourier‐transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy for the chemical characterisation of the seeds. Similarly, seeds of Lathyrus linifolius were characterised using physical, colorimetric and chemical techniques (Dello Jacovo et al .…”

Discrimination of Potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) Accessions Collected in Majella National Park (Abruzzo, Italy) Using Mid-Infrared Spectroscopy and Chemometrics Combined with Morphological and Molecular Analysis

“…In the present work, attenuated total reflectance Fourier transform infrared (ATR-FTIR) spectroscopy in the mid-range (4000-400 cm −1 ) was utilized to attempt a discrimination of autochthone potato accessions cultivated in the mountain territory of Majella National Park (Abruzzo, Italy) and commercial varieties usually grown in the same area. Apart from the safeguard of natural biodiversity and the wilderness, many actions are currently being implemented in the Majella National Park to valorize the local germplasm [35,36] and promote the sustainable economic development of rural areas. In this context, the plant genetic resources of the Majella National Park, including potatoes, have been recently rediscovered.…”