Assessing the geographic intraspecific variation of endangered plant species, Fagonia cretica and Tecomella undulata

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the intraspecific variation of two endangered plant species, Fagonia cretica and Tecomella undulata, using DNA barcodes and its function in the conservation and preservation of these therapeutic plants. Fagonia cretica and Tecomella undulata are medicinal plants utilized successfully in Desi and Unani herbal treatments. Their therapeutic characteristics make them uncommon and crucial in treating liver and stomach illnesses. As a result, these plants are rapidly explored and cut to be used as herbs. They have been classified as 'Endangered Plants' by the IUCN, and additional research is necessary. The preservation and protection of biodiversity is a current study and conversation hot-button worldwide. Specifically, from arid locations, Fagonia cretica and Tecomella undulata were collected from various parts of Punjab and Sindh. It was successful in extracting genomic DNA and amplifying it using DNA barcodes. Following sequencing, BLASTn and Clustal W tools aligned their sequences. MEGA was used for the phylogenetic analysis and the evaluation of intraspecific variation. These sequences' nucleotide variations (% divergence) showed that intraspecific variation was prevalent due to the presence of these endangered plants in various locations with various environments. The findings of this study contributed to the protection of these threatened plants and helped stop their future extinction. Keywords: NCBI, BOLD, IUCN, Red List, MEGA, Phylogenetic Tree.