Abstract
This work represents a morphological and molecular study of Salicornia and Sarcocornia species growing in the southern dryland of Tunisia. Internal transcribed spacers of the rDNA (ITS) data of six specimens from seven locations are analyzed. Flowers and seeds of Sarcocornia and Salicornia specimens are also compared. The results confirm the presence of Sarcocornia fruticosa (L.) A.J. Scott and two newly recorded species (Sarcocornia alpini (Lag.) Rivas Mart. and Salicornia emerici Duval-Jouve) in Tunisia. Flowers and seeds can be used to discriminate between the different specimens. Sarcocornia flowers have horizontal arrangement while Salicornia ones have triangular arrangement. The rounded and black seeds of S. fruticosa are the biggest. S. emerici seeds are light brown and elongated while those of S. alpini are flattened and dark brown.
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Data are available through reasonable request from the corresponding author.
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Acknowledgements
This research was supported by the ERANETMED2–72–303 PACTORES project; the part financed by the higher education and scientific research Ministry of Tunisia.
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ZH collected the specimens, performed the research and wrote the manuscript. RG performed the research and analyzed the data. AT collected the specimens and analyzed the data. IS and MT developed the taxonomic concept and contributed to the manuscript.
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Hayder, Z., Gaied, R.B., Tlili, A. et al. Phylogenetic and morphological studies of Sarcocornia (L.) A.J. Scott and Salicornia L. (Chenopodiaceae) and insights into plant diversity with first record of two species new for Tunisia. Genet Resour Crop Evol 70, 717–729 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10722-022-01454-y
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10722-022-01454-y