Delimiting species using DNA and morphological variation in some Alcea (Malvaceae) species based on SRAP markers

Abstract

Species identification is fundamentally important within the fields of biology, biogeography, ecology and conservation. The genus Alcea (Malvaceae) includes approximately 70 species of mainly Irano-Turanian distribution and is considered one of the most challenging genera of the Middle East, due to its uniformity and pronounced plasticity in morphological traits. In spite vast distribution of many Alcea species that grow in Iraq, there are not any available report on their genetic diversity, mode of divergence and patterns of dispersal. Therefore, we performed molecular (SRAP marker) and morphological studies of 80 accessions from 10 species of Alcea that were collected from different habitats in Iraq. The aims of present study are: 1) can SRAP markers identify Alcea species, 2) what is the genetic structure of these taxa in Iraq, and 3) to investigate the species inter-relationship? The present study revealed that combination of morphological and SRAP data can identify the species.