ECOLOGICAL DISTRIBUTION, MORPHOLOGICAL AND MOLECULAR CHARACTERIZATION OF ZYGOPHYLLACEAE FROM DIVERSE ECOLOGICAL ZONES OF BALOCHISTAN, PAKISTAN
Alia Ahmed, Ahmad Hameed, Shaymaa Muneam Saeed
Abstract
The study was aimed to characterize and document the wild plants of Zygophyllaceae in arid and semiarid regions of Balochistan. The morphology, ecology and molecular characteristics and taxonomic implications of many taxa were subject to analysis. The field survey was carried out during 2017-18 in the diverse elevation zones of Balochistan selected due to the presence of the highest number of Zygophyllaceae in these regions. Morphological and molecular characterization was carried out by using, agglomerative hierarchical clustering and Principal Component Analysis. A total of 17 plants of Zygophyllaceae were documented from Sibi, Mashkaf, Noshki, Naal, Dalbandeen, Punjgur, Hingol National Park, Bella, Uthal and Quetta region. Commonly distributed taxa were Peganum hermala and Tribulus terrestris. Furthermore, seven species of Fagonia, five species of Tribulus and four species of Zygophyllum were also assessed. The present study documents and contributes detailed significant information of naturally occurring medicinal plants of Zygophyllaceae from diverse remote zones of Balochistan. It also provides a base line for identification of controversial taxa on morphological and molecular basis. Especially the data provided may further be utilized for novel drug development. Furthermore, the ecological distribution may be useful in management of conservation of endangered and endemic taxa.