Articles
DIVERSITY OF WILD PRUNUS IN THE BEKAA PROVINCE, LEBANON
Article number
1032_28
Pages
207 – 214
Language
English
Abstract
The genetic diversity of wild relatives of cultivated species is currently being seriously threatened in many parts of the world which necessitates updating its documentation.
This study aimed to review and to evaluate the status of wild species within the genus Prunus (Rosaceae) in the Bekaa region, a province in Lebanon previously reported as being particularly rich in these species.
A total of 23 populations distributed over 18 sites (altitude between 700 and 1700 m and rainfall between 250 and 1200 mm) were studied.
Only 6 species of Prunus were found, belonging to the subgenus Amygdalus and Prunophora: P. dulcis, P. orientalis, P. korschinskii, P. spartioides, P. ursine and P. prostrate. In comparison to the findings of earlier studies of the Lebanese flora, four species of Prunophora and one species of Amygdalus were not found in their natural habitats.
On the other hand, the morphological characterization of these species indicates that quantitative leaf and fruit traits were highly influenced by environmental conditions.
The index of genetic diversity was generally high and ranged between 0.62 (P. amygdalus) and 0.74 (P. orientalis). Although these results indicate a serious reduction in species diversity of the genus Prunus in Lebanon, they, however, reveal a high variability in genetic diversity within the remaining species which could be used as a valuable gene pool for the improvement of Prunus cultivated species.
This study aimed to review and to evaluate the status of wild species within the genus Prunus (Rosaceae) in the Bekaa region, a province in Lebanon previously reported as being particularly rich in these species.
A total of 23 populations distributed over 18 sites (altitude between 700 and 1700 m and rainfall between 250 and 1200 mm) were studied.
Only 6 species of Prunus were found, belonging to the subgenus Amygdalus and Prunophora: P. dulcis, P. orientalis, P. korschinskii, P. spartioides, P. ursine and P. prostrate. In comparison to the findings of earlier studies of the Lebanese flora, four species of Prunophora and one species of Amygdalus were not found in their natural habitats.
On the other hand, the morphological characterization of these species indicates that quantitative leaf and fruit traits were highly influenced by environmental conditions.
The index of genetic diversity was generally high and ranged between 0.62 (P. amygdalus) and 0.74 (P. orientalis). Although these results indicate a serious reduction in species diversity of the genus Prunus in Lebanon, they, however, reveal a high variability in genetic diversity within the remaining species which could be used as a valuable gene pool for the improvement of Prunus cultivated species.
Publication
Authors
L. Chalak, A. Elbitar, A. Chehade
Keywords
Prunus, wild species, Lebanon, environmental factors, morphological traits
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