PHYLOGENETIC RELATIONSHIP OF TURKISH TERRESTRIAL ORCHIDS

Abstract

Twenty-four genus and almost 100 terrestrial species belonging to the Orchidaceae family have been determined in Turkey. Because of the polymeric structure, aphrodisiac effect and the other medicinal characteristics, ‘salep’ orchids were extremely demanded and extensively exported from 1700s to 1974. Despite all the laws put into effect, the pulling of these orchids has continued since 1974 for interior trade. While the amount of annual export was 6.5 tons in 1700s, most of these species are now within endangered plant classes. For the sustainability of their generations; the genetic resource preservation, the solution of species confusions, forming of suitable markers, causing them to get genetic identity, the patent rights and therefore, the usage of molecular techniques have gained much more importance especially according to the approach of recent plant genetic resource conservation policies. With this direction, the wild orchid species living in Antalya were searched and 24 species determined in a previous study, then different researches were carried out on these species. In this research, phylogenetic relationships of wild orchid species were defined at the genus level via RAPD molecular technique. The most genetic nearness was fixed between Cephalanthera rubra and Platanthera chlorantha. Additionally, it was determined that Anacamptis pyramidalis had the most different genetic structure among the other species.