Research Paper

Comparative study of autecological, morphological, anatomical and karyological characteristics of Acanthophyllum ejtehadii Mahmoudi & Vaezi (Caryophyllaceae): a rare endemic in Iran

Zahra Maleki Sadabadi, Hamid Ejtehadi, Parvaneh Abrishamchi, Jamil Vaezi and Mohammad Bagher Erfanian Taleii Noghan

Published on: 28 July 2017

Page: 321 - 330

DOI: 10.6165/tai.2017.62.321

  • BibTeX
    •
  • EndNote
    •
  • RIS
    •

    Abstract

    Characterizing traits of a species in its habitat is substantial for planning a practical conservation program. Acanthophyllum ejtehadii Mahmoudi & Vaezi (Caryophyllaceae) is a recently established endemic species for flora of Iran and has a narrow non-conserved natural habitat in Radkan region of Chenaran, Razavi Khorasan Province. The soil and climate of Radkan was studied and the ecological, morphological, anatomical, and karyological aspects of A. ejtehadii were investigated to obtain a comprehensive knowledge about this species and its natural growth conditions. Field observations were performed during the growing seasons in 2014‒2015 and 29 vegetation samples were collected as data. Results showed that this plant grows in mound-like sites on clay-loam soils at mean elevation 1279 m.a.s.l. in arid climate. Acanthophyllum ejtehadii is a thorn-cushion form chamaephyte plant. This Plant grow gradually in early-January, the flower unfolds in early-June and the matured seeds are produced in mid-July. A. ejtehadii is a diploid (2n=2x =30) species and has homogenous karyotype. Having unique morphological and anatomical adaptations such as expanded surface roots, reduced leaf area and thickened cuticle, this plant grows successfully in harsh environments. These mechanisms are specific to this specific kind of Acanthophyllum species. The Speciation time of this plant was estimated not more than 200 thousand years ago and if Radkan is preserved from anthropogenic disturbance, this species could expand its distribution area.

    Keyword: Acanthophyllum ejtehadii, Anatomy, Autecology, Karyology, Morphology

    Literature Cited

    Asaadi, A. M. 2009. Floristic study of Firuzeh watershed (North Khorasan province). Res. J. Bio. Sci. 4: 1092-1103.

    Atwell, B. J., P.E. Kriedemann and C.G.N. Turnbull. 1999. Plants in Action: Adaptation Nature, Performance in Cultivation. MacMillan Education Australia, Melbourne.

    Barik, K.L. and B.N. Misra. 1998. Biological spectrum of a grassland ecosystem of South Orissa. Ecoprint 5: 73-7.

    Boughalleb, F., R. Abdellaoui, Z. Haddad and M. Neffati. 2015. Anatomical adaptations of the desert species Stipa lagascae against drought stress. Biologia (Bratislava) 70(8): 1042-1052.
    DOI: 10.1515/biolog-2015-0125View Article Google Scholar

    Cannon, W. A. 1949. A tentative classification of root systems. Ecology 30(4): 542-548.
    DOI: 10.2307/1932458View Article Google Scholar

    Davis, P.H. 1967. Flora of Turkey. Edinburg University Press, Edinburgh.

    De Micco, V., and G. Aronne. 2012. Morpho-Anatomical Traits for Plant Adaptation to Drought. In: R. Aroca (Ed.), Plant Responses to Drought Stress. Springer-Verlag Berlin, Heidelberg. pp. 37-61.

    Oliver, J.E. 2005. The Encyclopedia of World Climatology. Springer Dordrecht, Berlin, Heidelberg, New York.

    Esu, I.E. 1991. Detailed soil survey of NIHORT farm at Bunkure, Kano State, Nigeria. Institute of Agricultural Research, Zaria.

    Gerlach, D. 1977. Botanische Mikrotechnik. Thieme Verlag, Stuttgart.

    Ghaffari, S.M. 2004. Cytotaxonomy of some species of Acanthophyllum (Caryophyllaceae) from Iran. Biologia (Bratislava) 59: 53-60.

    Ghahreman, A. 2005. Plant Systematics Cormophytes of Iran: volume 1, University Publication Center, Tehran.

    Ghahreman, A. and F. Attar. 1999. Biodiversity of Plant Species in Iran: volume 1. Central Herbarium of Tehran University, Faculty of Science, Tehran.

    Gill, J. S., J. Tisdall, I.G.M. Kusnarta and B.M. McKenzie. 2004. Physical properties of a clay loam soil mixed with sand. Third Australian New Zealand Soils Conference.

    Heywood, V.H. 1985. Flowering plants of the World. Croop Helm. London.

    Huziwara, Y. 1962. Karyotype analysis in some genera of Compositae. VIII. Further studies on the shromosome of Aster. Am. J. Bot. 49(2): 116-119.
    DOI: 10.2307/2439026View Article Google Scholar

    Jalili, A. and Z. Jamzad. 1999. Red Data Book of Iran. Research Institute of Forests and Rangelands, Tehran.

    Kooyers, N.J. 2015. The evolution of drought escape and avoidance in natural herbaceous populations. Plant Sci. 234:155-162.
    DOI: 10.1016/j.plantsci.2015.02.012View Article Google Scholar

    K?ppler, M.R. and J.D. Hitchmough. 2015. Ecology good, autecology better; Improving the sustainability of designed plantings. J. Landsc. Archit. 10: 82-91.

    Kparmwang, T., B.A. Raji, A.C. Odunze and V.O. Chude. 2001. Properties, classification and agricultural potential of Ustults, and Tropepts on a sedimentary toposequence in the Benue. Nigerian J. Soil Res. 2: 58-65.

    Lobato, A.K.S., C.F. Oliveira Neto, B.G. Santos Filho, R.C.L. Costa, F.J.R. Cruz, H.K.B. Neves and M.J.S. Lopes. 2008. Physiological and biochemical behavior in soybean (Glycine max cv. Sambaiba) plants under water deficit. Aust. J. Crop. Sci. 2: 25-32.

    Mahmoudi-Shamsabad, M., J. Vaezi, F. Memariani and M.R. Joharchi. 2012. A new species and a new record of Acanthophyllum C.A.Mey. (Caryophyllaceae) from northeast of Iran. Iranian J. Bot. 18: 59-63.

    Maleki Sadabadi, Z., H. Ejtehadi, P. Abrishamchi and J. Vaezi. 2015a. Compare the features of pollen species Acanthophyllum ejtehadii Mahmoudi and Vaezi with its relative species. Second National Conference on Environmental, Natural Resources Engineering and Sustainable agricultural management.

    Maleki Sadabadi, Z., H. Ejtehadi, P. Abrishamchi and J. Vaezi. 2015b. Evaluation of germination and micro-morphological characters of Acanthophyllum ejtehadii Mohmoudi and Vaezi seed. Second National Conference on Environmental, Natural Resources Engineering and Sustainable agricultural management.

    Malik, Z.H., F. Hussain, and N.Z. Malik. 2007. Life form and Leaf Size Spectra of Plant Communities Harbouring Ganga Chotti and Bedori Hills During 1999-2000. Int J Agric Biol. 6: 833-838.

    Mitra, J. 2001. Genetics and genetic improvement of drought resistance in crop plants. Cur. Sci. 80:758

    Moussavi-Harami, R., A. Mahbobi, M. Khanehbad, M. Akhlaghi, M. Khajeh-Yazdi, and Gh. Rostamizadeh. 2004. The relationship between sedimentology and texture parameters of the downstream side of Radkan River Basin, Northwest Chenaran. Proceeding of Seventh conference of Geological Society of Iran (article in Persian). M?ller, M., D. Grill, B. Druskovic and J. Pradiz. 1991. A cytogenetic method for examining the vitality of spruces. Phyton 31: 143-155.

    M?ller, M., D. Grill, B. Druskovic and J. Pradiz. 1991. A cytogenetic method for examining the vitality of spruces. Phyton 31: 143-155.

    NASA POWER. 2012. NASA Climatology Resource for Agroclimatology, [homepage on the Internet], NASA POWER Agroclimatology, (cited 10 August 2015), http://power.larc.nasa.gov/cgi-bin/cgiwrap/solar/agro.cgi.

    Osuagwu, G.G.E., H.O. Edeoga and A.N. Osuagwu. 2010. The influence of water stress (drought) on the mineral and vitamin potential of the leaves Ocimum gratissimum L. Recent Res. in Sci. Technol. 2(2): 27-33.

    Pianka, E.R. 2008. Autecology. In: (J?rgensen, S. E. and Fath B. D. Eds.). Encyclopedia of Ecology volume 1 Elsevier, Oxford. pp. 285-287.

    Pirani, A., M.R. Joharchi and F. Memariani. 2013. A new species of Acanthophyllum (Caryophyllaceae) from Iran. Phytotaxa 92(1): 20-24.
    DOI: 10.11646/phytotaxa.92.1.3View Article Google Scholar

    Pirani, A., Sh. Zarre, B.E. Pfeil, Y.J.K. Bertrand, M. Assadi and B. Oxelman. 2014. Molecular phylogeny of Acanthophyllum (Caryophyllaceae: Caryophylleae), with emphasis on infrageneric classification. Taxon 63(3): 592-607.
    DOI: 10.12705/633.39View Article Google Scholar

    Raunkiaer, C. 1934. The Life Forms of Plant and Statistical Plant Geography. Claredon Press. Oxford.

    Rosen, C. J., P.M. Bierman, and D.R. Eliason. 2008. Soil Test Interpretation and Fertilizer Management for Lawns, Tturf, Gardens, and Landscape Plant [homepage on the Internet], University of Minnesota, Extension Service [cited 20 March 2015].http://www.extension.umn.edu/garden/yard-garden/soils/soil-test-interpretations-and-fertilizer-management/.

    Schiman-Czeika, H. 1988. Flora Iranica, volume 163. Akademische Druck, Graz, Austria.

    Schweingruber, F.H. 2007. Stem anatomy of Caryophyllaceae, Flora 202(4): 281-292.
    DOI: 10.1016/j.flora.2006.07.004View Article Google Scholar

    Shokri, M., M.A. Bahmanyar and M.R. Tatian. 2003. An Ecological Investigation of Vegetation Cover in Estival Rangeland of Hezarjarib (Behshahr). Iranian J. Nat.l Resour. 56: 131-142.

    Soil Survey Staff. 2014. Keys to Soil Taxonomy 12th edition. United States Department of Agriculture.

    Taiz, L. and E. Zeiger. 2010. Plant Physiology. Sinauer Associates, Sunderland.

    Takhtajan, A.L. 1986. Floristic Regions of the World. University of California Press, Berkley.

    Villeneuve, G.O. 1980. Glossaire de m?t?orologie et de climatologie. Les Presses de I'Universit? Laval, Quebec.

    Zohary, M. 1973. Geobotanical foundations of the Middle East, CRC Press, Stuttgart.