Genotypic Diversity Among Wild Populations of Buffelgrass (Cenchrus ciliaris L. Link) in Al-Qassim Region

Al-Soqeer, A.

doi:10.3923/ajbkr.2011.262.268

Cited by 3 publications

(4 citation statements)

References 9 publications

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“…The phenotypic polymorphism, measured in C. ciliaris, did not show any clear relationship with the eco-geographical features of the source population (Kharrat-Souissi et al 2010, 2011. These results accord with those of M'seddi et al (2002, 2004b) and Jorge et al (2008) demonstrating a generally poor correlation between environmental data and agro-morphological data of C. ciliaris.…”

Section: Insights For the Conservation Of Cenchrus Ciliaris Lsupporting

confidence: 79%

“…This result supports the finding of Hignight et al (1991) that C. ciliaris can reproduce via a process of facultative apomixes. In Tunisia, C. ciliaris has more genetic diversity than in populations from the Al-Qassim region of Saudi Arabia (Al-Soqeer 2011). This latter author surmised that the low level of genetic variation of Saudi (Al-Qassim) C. ciliaris populations was not surprising given the presumed predominantly apomictic reproductive system of this species.…”

Section: Molecular Diversitymentioning

confidence: 89%

“…In addition, selection could be practiced on a highly heritable trait which correlates with a more complex trait such as yield (Majidi et al 2009). However, according to our results, the aboveground biomass is an efficient discriminating variable for identifying the most productive genotypes (Kharrat-Souissi et al 2010, 2011). M'seddi et al (2004b has established that tuft diameter and tuft height are also good indicators which can be used to increase the productivity of C. ciliaris.…”

Section: Insights For the Conservation Of Cenchrus Ciliaris Lmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Considering the ecological interest offered by C. ciliaris: drought tolerance (Bhatt et al 2007; De La Barrera and Castellanos 2007;Kharrat-Souissi et al 2012a), high fodder production and nutritive value to livestock (Kharrat-Souissi et al 2010;Arshadullah et al 2011), rapid regeneration in response to rainfall (Bose and Balakarishnan 2001), tolerance of heavy grazing (M'seddi et al 2004a) and soil stabilisation abilities because of a deep root system (Chaieb et al 1996;Mnif and Chaieb 2009), the persistence of this species in its native range in arid ecosystems is a crucial factor for restoration ecology of degraded arid rangelands. For these reasons, C. ciliaris has been the subject of numerous applied studies, which have focussed on its phenotypic polymorphism, its ecological significance (M'seddi et al 2002;Arshad et al 2007;Jorge et al 2008;Visser et al 2008;Kharrat-Souissi et al 2010;Arshadullah et al 2011), resistance to drought (Mansoor et al 2002;Mnif and Chaieb 2010;Kharrat-Souissi et al 2012a), biological invasion capacity (Friedel et al 1996;Franklin et al 2006;GutierrezOzuna et al 2009;Marshall et al 2012) and its genotypic diversity (Nisar et al 2010;Al-Soqeer 2011;Kharrat-Souissi et al 2011).…”

Section: Adaptive Characteristicsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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The polyploid nature of Cenchrus ciliaris L. (Poaceae) has been overlooked: new insights for the conservation and invasion biology of this species – a review

et al. 2014

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Abstract. Climate change, associated with increased aridity, and high grazing pressure by livestock results in the scarcity and loss of perennial Poaceae in arid ecosystems. The species threatened by this include Cenchrus ciliaris L., a native perennial grass of the tropical and sub-tropical arid rangelands of Africa and Western Asia and now introduced in Central and South America, and Australia. This species reproduces predominantly through aposporous apomixis although sexual individuals have been occasionally identified. Cenchrus ciliaris is characterised by a significant, heritable, phenotypic polymorphism and three ploidy levels including tetraploids (2n = 4x = 36), pentaploids (2n = 5x = 45) and hexaploids (2n = 6x = 54). Under water-deficit conditions, C. ciliaris shows plasticity in growth characteristics and aboveground biomass. This phenotypic plasticity has led to the identification of genotypic-associated responses conferring more productivity. This underlines the importance of conserving the genetic diversity of C. ciliaris in order to ensure the persistence of the vegetation cover in the arid ecosystems in which it occurs. Observations from cytogenetic and molecular data converge to underline the possibility of sexual reproduction, recombination and gene flow within and between populations of C. ciliaris. Genetic mechanisms, such as polyploidy, hybridisation between ploidy levels and apomixes, are generating and then maintaining the diversity of C. ciliaris. This review emphasises the role of polyploidy in the evolutionary development of C. ciliaris and how it may be a crucial factor for its conservation in some countries and its weedy nature in others.

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Section: Insights For the Conservation Of Cenchrus Ciliaris Lsupporting

confidence: 79%

Section: Molecular Diversitymentioning

confidence: 89%