Diversité morphologique et teneur en hyoscyamine/scopolamine de douze provenances algériennes de Datura stramonium L.

Abstract

Morphological diversity and hyoscyamine/scopolamine contents in twelve Algerian samples of Datura stramonium L. of different origin. Morphological diversity was estimated on 15 phenotypic characters of Datura stramonium from twelve samples of different origin ; the Algerian distribution of that species extends from Nedroma (extreme western Algeria : semi-arid bioclimatic stage) to El Kala (at the Algerian-Tunisian border : humid bioclimatic stage). Seeds from these twelve samples were collected and then grown in similar pedoclimatic conditions. Measurements were carried out 60 days after sowing. Results show that these twelve samples were significantly different for the measured traits (leaf area, length of the flowers, number of ramifications, number and biometrics of the capsules and height of the plants). Principal component analysis (PCA) and Factorial discriminant analysis (FDA) were used to discriminate the origins of the samples from their studied characters. The canonical averages of the twelve samples were significantly different, especially in the biometric traits including mature plants, capsules and seeds. The alkaloid content (hyoscyamine and scopolamine) of the twelve samples seems to be influenced by the geographical and bioclimatic distribution. In addition, the most alkaloid productive samples were generally those that invest more in biomass production (leaf area, height and collar diameter of plants).