Halophile wheatgrass Thinopyrum elongatum (Host) D.R. Dewey (Poaceae) in three Apulian coastal wetlands: vegetation survey and genetic diversity

Abstract

Three Apulian (SE Italy) coastal sites, Torre Canne to Torre San Leonardo (T), Punta della Contessa Salt Pans (S) and the La Vela Swamp (P), characterised by sandy shores and salt marshes recognised as wetland environments belonging to the Natura 2000 network, were selected as study areas in order to survey the vegetation zonation, plant communities, ecological context and genetic diversity of Thinopyrum elongatum population within humid habitats. Analysis of vegetation, plant communities and soil samplings were carried out to investigate the ecological context of 24 populations collected of this halophile wheatgrass, along with biochemical characterization (A-PAGE, SDS-PAGE, and IEFxSDS-PAGE) of seed storage proteins, used to assess the genetic diversity intra- and inter-populations and genotype frequencies. Thinopyrum elongatum populations showed a significative presence in the halophile shrub plant communities of salt marshes, especially those characterised by Limbarda crithmoides and Artemisia caerulescens. The differences of the protein patterns, suggest the presence in the T area of a higher genetic variability and a greater resistance to the numerous factors of human pressure. The results have been discussed hypothesizing that this multidisciplinary approach could be considered a model to evaluate in the future the same environments or other similar ones, subjected to anthropogenic pressures and environmental changes.