Biochemical genetic fingerprinting of eight acacia spcies from egypt

Abstract EN

Eight Acacia species with different levels of drought resistance were collected from three different phytogeographical regions ; El-Naqab (Sinai Peninsula), Gabal-Elba (G-Elba) in the south and the Nile Valley of upper (southern) Egypt.

Seeds of these species were used for biochemical analysis where proteins, polymorphic enzymes and glycinebetaine were analyzed to evaluate the biochemical genetic variants among these Acacia spp.

Results obtained from total protein analysis indicated that Acacia species exhibited a maximum number of 21 protein bands that had molecular weights ranged between 137.75 and 16.66 KDa.

Results also revealed that specific protein bands with molecular weights of about 34.81 and 22.99 KDa were detected in different species which may be considered as positive markers associated with Acacia spp.

Results also indicated that protein bands with molecular weights of 52.87 and 6.66 kDa were recorded in all species under study, irrespective of the riverine species A.

arabica which may be also considered as a positive markers of drought resistance.

The polymorphic enzymes, two isozyme systems (esterase and acid phosphatase) were used to study variations in gene expression of the studied eight Acacia species.

In this concern, the electrophoretic bands showed that all true xerophytes Acacia species gave the maximum genes expression of concerned isozymes, but differ in their intensities, pointing to their growth under different ecological conditions.

Whereas, A.

arabica (the riverine species) gave a minimum genes expression.

Meanwhile, all Acacia species, which represent an intermediate stage of drought stress, exhibited genes expression falling between true xerophytes and riverine Acacia species.

Concerning glycinebetaine content, both A.

gerarrdii and A.

tortilis attained the highest value of it compared with other species (36 and 35 µg / g, respectivity).

These two species proved to be the most drought resistant among the concerned Acacia spp.