Comparative morphological and cytogenetic study of five Asparagus (Asparagaceae) species from Algeria including the endemic A. altissimus Munby

Abstract

Forty wild populations belonging to five Asparagus species including the endemic A. altissimus were sampled in an eastwest bioclimatic gradient of North Algeria. More than 250 individuals were taxonomically examined and karyologically investigated. Meiotic behavior was analyzed for each species. New chromosome numbers were consistent with the base number x = 10 for the genus Asparagus, and two cytotypes, diploid and hexaploid, were observed. Four species were found to have 2n = 20 chromosomes, highlighting the prominence of diploidy in North Africa. One polyploid with 2n = 60 is reported here as the first karyological information on the endemic A. altissimus. Karyotype parameters were established and compared for diploid species. New data provided for A. acutifolius and A. albus indicate differences in the number of submetacentric chromosomes and genome size estimated by total chromosome length. A. acutifolius is distinguished by the largest genome, the smallest being that of A. horridus. The hexaploid cytotype consists of very small metacentric chromosomes. All diploid species displayed regular meiotic behavior with mostly bivalent pairing. Abnormalities, including univalents, multivalents, laggards, and bridges, were sometimes observed in A. horridus and A. officinalis. The new cytogenetic information provided in this study is discussed in the biogeographic context of the North African flora.

Determination of natural distribution areas and some agro-morphological characteristics with sexual dimorphism of wild asparagus (Asparagus officinalis L.) in Iğdır plain-Turkey

“…In general, plant height in commercial asparagus varies between 0.3 and 2 m (Anido and Cointry, 2008). Boubetra et al (2017) in their study on A. acutifolius, A. albus, A. horridus, A. o cinalis and A. altissimus species, reported plant lengths between 0.5-2 m, 0.95 m, 0.25-1 m, 0.5-2 m and 1-5 m, respectively. Our research ndings show that the plant sizes of asparagus in Iğdır plain are higher.…”

“…It is thought that they were probably fed by leachate from the riverside. Asparagus is known to be ecologically tolerant of high temperature and arid conditions mainly under forest cover, as well as in various areas including semi-desert steppes (Boubetra et al 2017). Asparagus can be grown in various regions of Africa, America, Asia and Europe, which makes it not selective in terms of climate requirements due to its high adaptability (Vural et al 2000) and they do not like precipitation especially during the spear harvest period (Wilson et al 1996).…”

“…Cladodes are leaf-like morphology and axillary position, and it's used to identify morphological variations(Nakayama et al 2012). Boubetra et al (2017) reported that cladode lengths were calculated in A. acutifolius, A. albus, A. horridus, A. o cinalis and A. altissimus species, and found between 1.7-7.3 mm, 11-27.2 mm, 19.9-86.2 mm, and 12.9-26.7 mm 14.9-19.7, respectively. In this context, it can be realized that leaf lengths in the present nding are higher than other asparagus species which may be due to ecological variations.Morphological classi cation provides useful guidelines for demonstrating species relationships and developing further information for plant breeders and gene bank management (Khadivi-Khub et al, 2012).…”

Seed Treatment Techniques to Improve Germination of Wild Asparagus (Asparagus acutifolius L.), a Potential New Crop

“…The plant of Asparagus acutifolius (2n=20) is dioecious, green with short rhizome, and its young shoots are sweet or slightly bitter, greenish and elongated (Boubetra et al, 2017). The same authors described that the fruits of the female plants are globose and black, when they are mature, and they have 1-2 seeds, which have a strong dormancy and are difficult to germinate.…”

Biodiversity of bulbous and tuberous geophytes from the El Kala National Park (North-Eastern Algeria): checklist, vulnerability and conservation

“…In Algeria, very recent limited data are available on the bulbous geophytes, meanwhile some other studies have been carried out on Orchidaceeae (de Bélair 2000, de Bélair & Boussouak 2002, Hadji & Rebbas 2013, Kreutz et al 2013, Bougaham et al 2015, Beghami et al 2015Hamel & Meddad-Hamza 2016, Madoui et al 2017, Boukehili et al 2018 and Asparagaceae (Véla et al 2016, Boubetra et al 2017.…”