Genetic Diversity of Colocynth (Citrullus colocynthis Schrader) Populations in the Eastern Desert of Egypt as Revealed by Morphological Variation and ISSR Polymorphism

Abstract

The analysis of variation in morphological traits differentiated Citrullus colocynthis populations growing north of Qena‐Quseir road (25°56'5.28”N to 28°11'40.56”N) from populations growing south of that road (25°0'55.80”N to 22°46'15.24”N). This differentiation is particularly associated with fewer number of shorter branches as well as longer days to flowering and fruiting. The ISSR polymorphism distinguished one population from all other populations, in agreement with its lowest percentage of polymorphic markers and the presence of unique markers and differentiated other three groups; one of six populations north of Qena‐Quseir road, second of four populations south Idfo‐Marsa Alam transect (24°32'49.92”N) and a large one, in the middle. A Bayesian analysis of the ISSR data identified three groups, consistent with the ISSR analysis. In the analysis of combined morphological and ISSR data, the populations in the north and the south were also recognized as two groups, the populations in the middle were divided in two clusters, in agreement with their differentiation based on the analysis of ISSR data. The Pearson coefficient calculations indicated that unique ISSR markers are negatively correlated with yield traits such as fruit weight, seeds total weight/fruit, 100 seeds weight, seeds number/fruit, seed size, and fruit characters.

Assessment of the Genetic Diversity among Wild Colocynth (Citrullus colocynthis (L.)Schrad.) Ecotypes Collected from Different Regions of Sudan

“…The second included all colocynth ecotypes, except K10, which was grouped in the third cluster et al ( 2001) who with 30 RAPD grouped the two species in different clusters. The high percentage of polymorphism based on RAPD markers reported among ecotypes in this study, is in agreement with the high polymorphism found in C. colocynthis populations using ISSR markers (Badr et al 2018). Mujaju et al (2010) reported successful differentiation between two major groups of watermelon (Citrullus lanatus) landraces from Zimbabwe using RAPD and ISSR markers.…”

Association of Morphological, Ecological, and Genetic Diversity of Aerva javanica Populations Growing in the Eastern Desert of Egypt

“…The soil characteristics, particularly Na, Ca, K, Mg, Cl, SO 4 , pH, EC, gravels, and moisture contents, play essential roles in the vegetation groups in the Eastern Desert of Egypt [50]. The presence of some medicinal species in large groups of the Eastern Desert of Egypt reflects its capability to remain under various environmental systems [25,49]. In our study, A. javanica behaves in the same manner.…”

“…In Egypt, the main focus of the molecular diversity of five populations of Achillea fragrantissima using RAPD and isozymes markers showed that the variations in zonation were especially reflected on DNA fingerprinting [44]. Consequently, the populations of some species in the Eastern Desert of Egypt from close geographical sites were grouped together corroborating a limited gene flow that may be due to fragmentation of the geographical range in the species assured by Badr et al [25,45]. In the current study, the proportion of polymorphic bands distinctly specified that the ISSR markers are extremely polymorphic and particularly informational for determining genetic relationships of the examined A. javanica populations.…”

“…In Egypt, the populations of Achillea fragrantissima growing in the mountains of Sinai were obviously featured from other populations growing at decreased altitudes depending on the morphological varieties and ISSR polymorphism [24]. The genetic differences of Citrullus colocynthis in the Eastern Desert of Egypt as detected by morphological and ISSR polymorphism were addressed by Badr et al [25].…”