Phenetic analysis on some taxa of Crassulaceae DC. based on morphological and molecular criteria

Abstract

The Crassulaceae faced many arguments considering its taxonomic relationship with the nearby families. The present study based on the examination of 23 taxa (22 representing Crassulaceae and Saxifraga sarmentosa representing Saxifragaceae as an outgroup). The macro- and micromorphological characters of the studied taxa viz. stem, lamina anatomy, lamina epidermal characteristics were investigated by the aid of LM and SEM as well as molecular characters. All the obtained macr-, and micrmorphological characters as well as molecular data are subjected to PAST program Version 3.16. The aim of the present study is to integrate the morphological and molecular taxonomic tools to produce a more realistic and accurate phenogram in expressing the true relationships among the taxa under investigation and give point of view in classification systems of the family. The macro- and micromorphological characters are summarized in cumulative tables and illustrated colored plates, discussed and compared with other studies and previous taxonomic systems. The molecular data sequence and accession number were upload on gene bank data base. The obtained phenogram segregates the 22 of Crassulaceae OTU’s into into two main groups and three subgroups (a1, a2 and a3) that correspond to the three tribes (Sedeae, umbiliceae and Kalanchoeae) respectively.