BREEDING FOR CONSERVATION OF Salvia multicaulis POPULATION IN SAINT KATHERINE PROTECTORATE

doi:10.12816/ejpb.2019.344258

BREEDING FOR CONSERVATION OF Salvia multicaulis POPULATION IN SAINT KATHERINE PROTECTORATE

Document Type : Original research

10.12816/ejpb.2019.344258

Abstract

A first step of the program of breeding medicinal plants of Genetic Resources Department, Desert Research Center (DRC), is not only producing new genotypes from wild relatives, adapted to climate change status, but also profoundly shaping conservation priorities. The present work was divided into two parts as follows: The first one was studying the status of bardakosh Salvia multicaulis population in the three largest locations (Enshial, Abu Twita and Farsh Messila) within Saint Katherine Protectorate (SKP). The state of wild plants was better at the third location (Farsh Messila). The field observation revealed that drought followed by over-collection especially collection of flowering parts are considered as the major threats of Salvia multicaulis. All these factors are pushing them to the brink of extinction. The second, trial was set up during 2016 until 2018 seasons. Crossing has been done between Salvia multicaulis (wild) × Salvia officinalis (cultivated) and evaluation of three populations (P₁, P₂ and F₁generation) was done at the community gardens. The experimental design was randomized complete block design, with three replicates. The results showed that P₁ (Salvia multicaulis) recorded the highest values of the mean calyx length (2.50 cm) and calyx width (2.00cm). The good flower shape reflects the importance of the wild plant to the local community. While, F₁ generation recorded the highest values of the mean plant inflorescence length (46.93cm) and no. of flowers per inflorescence (86.00). Also, F₁generation gave good values of the mean calyx length (1.83 cm) and calyx width (0.80cm).This reflects the improvement in the flowers shape desired by the local community. By selection in advanced segregating generations, the characteristics of the flowers can be improved. Also, the F₁flowers bloomed early and gave the highest number of flowers on the plant. It was a good plant for the beekeepers on medicinal plant. The estimate σ²p was high for all traits, except stem thickness and percentage of oil. Heritability in broad-sense (H²) estimates were high for all traits. The estimates of PCV and GCV for calyx width were the highest. Potence ratio (P) shower over dominance to high parent for inflorescence length and no.of flowers per inflorescence. Heterosis over mid-parents and better-parentwere highly significant and positive for inflorescence length andno. of flowers per inflorescence. Calyx length had highly significant and positive correlation with calyx width. The dendrogram and similarity matrix showed that the highest genetic similarity was detected between P₂ and F₁.

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