The length, number, and endodermis area of needles discriminate two genetically distinct populations of Cedrus atlantica Manetti in the Moroccan Middle Atlas

Nezha El Bakkali,Mohammed Bendriss Amraoui

doi:10.5586/asbp.3591

Nezha El Bakkali, Mohammed Bendriss Amraoui

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.5586/asbp.3591

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Abstract

The variation in some adaptive characters of cedar needles was studied in two different regions of the Moroccan Middle Atlas that have different local environmental conditions and levels of genetic diversity. The two populations are localized in the Azrou and Ifrane regions. Tukey’s tests showed that the needle/brachyblast number (Nn/R), length (Nl), and needle width (Nw) showed the greatest variation. In addition, all anatomical characters studied showed a significant correlation with Nw, whereas only the area of the vascular bundles (AVb) was related to Nl. Discriminant analysis revealed that Nn/R, Nl, and the area of the central cylinder (ACc) are high-discriminating characters among populations of Azrou and Ifrane and confirms their isolation. These adaptations of the morphological and anatomical traits of the Atlas cedar needles of the Azrou and Ifrane regions are discussed in relation to the local environmental conditions and have been found to be in harmony with their genetic distinctiveness revealed previously.

Highlights

Predicting how species will respond to future events by identifying structural differentiation is crucial in both preserving the species’ potential and understanding their evolutionary forces [1]
Ivanov et al [5] found that the retraction of the geographic range of the Cedrus occurred during the late Tertiary as a result of the increase in climate cooling
Molecular analyses and fossil record have suggested that C. atlantica populations of the Rif and the central and the eastern Tell Atlas, in addition to those that occurred before the Holocene in Tunisia and eastern Algeria, represent the most ancient persistent cores in North Africa [7]

Summary

Introduction

Predicting how species will respond to future events by identifying structural differentiation is crucial in both preserving the species’ potential and understanding their evolutionary forces [1]. Molecular analyses and fossil record have suggested that C. atlantica populations of the Rif and the central and the eastern Tell Atlas, in addition to those that occurred before the Holocene in Tunisia and eastern Algeria, represent the most ancient persistent cores in North Africa [7]. Such interpretations imply that C. atlantica would have persisted through the last glacial period in these distinct refugia located along the coast of the Western Mediterranean Sea, and expanded south to west

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