DNA Barcoding of Endangered and Rarely Occurring Plants in Faifa Mountains (Jazan, Saudi Arabia)

Fatmah Ahmed Safhi, Salha Mesfer Alshamrani (), Yosur Gamal Fiteha and Diaa Abd El-Moneim
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Fatmah Ahmed Safhi: Department of Biology, College of Science, Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University, P.O. Box 84428, Riyadh 11671, Saudi Arabia
Salha Mesfer Alshamrani: Department of Biology, College of Science, University of Jeddah, Jeddah 21959, Saudi Arabia
Yosur Gamal Fiteha: Department of Zoology (Molecular Genetics), Faculty of Women, Ain Shams University, Cairo 11865, Egypt
Diaa Abd El-Moneim: Department of Plant Production (Genetic Branch), Faculty of Environmental Agricultural Sciences, Arish University, El-Arish 45511, Egypt

Agriculture, 2022, vol. 12, issue 11, 1-13

Abstract: Conservation of plant genetic resources, especially threatened species, is an important topic in biodiversity. It is a field that requires prior knowledge of the target species, in addition to correct identification and taxonomic description. In botany, the identification of plant species traditionally relies on key morphological descriptions and anatomical features. However, in complex species and tree plants, molecular identification can facilitate identification and increase species delimitation accuracy. In the Faifa mountains of Jazan province in Saudi Arabia, 12 rarely occurring plants were recorded and identified using two DNA barcoding regions (i.e., rbcL and ITS). All the samples were successfully amplified, sequenced, and analyzed using the standard DNA barcode protocol, and this resulted in the clear and accurate identification of 11 out of the 12 sampled species. A total of five species were in agreement in terms of both morpho- and molecular-based identification. Four and two species were identified based solely on ITS and rbcL phylogenetics, respectively. The geographic distribution records of the identified species showed that some species were distributed at a distance far from their usual region, while others were reported in proximate regions and localities. Some species were found to be medicinally important and required additional conservation plans.

Keywords: DNA barcode; plant identification; phylogenetics; rare plants; endangered plants (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q1 Q10 Q11 Q12 Q13 Q14 Q15 Q16 Q17 Q18 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
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