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Variation among individuals of Citrullus colocynthis from a desert population in morphological, genetic, and germination attributes

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Abstract

Variations in fruit size, color, and stripe pattern on fruit rinds have been noticed among individuals within Citrullus colocynthis (Cucurbitaceae) populations in the hyper-arid deserts of the UAE. The present study aimed at assessing variations in fruit and seed characters, germination behavior, and genetic diversity among 12 individuals (hereafter referred accessions) collected from one population. Results showed that the accessions differed in seed dormancy level and response to light and temperature of incubation. The overall germination ranged between 18.5% in accession number 9 and 56.6% for accession number 2. At lower temperatures (15/25 °C), little germination occurred in darkness but not in the light. Germination was significantly greater and faster (germination rate index was higher) at higher temperatures (25/35 °C) than moderate (20/30 °C) and lower temperatures. Germination was greater in light than darkness in almost all accessions at higher temperatures but not at moderate temperatures. Random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) analysis showed polymorphism varied between 90 and 100%, with polymorphic information content values ranged from 0.28 to 0.37 with an average of 0.33. Few individuals showed high genetic similarities, while most of them had similarity coefficients less than 0.5. There were moderate to weak relationships between genetic similarities and germination behavior of the different accessions.

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Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank Dr. Attiat Elnaggar, Alexandria University, Egypt, and Mr. Francois Tsombou, Universidad de Málaga, Spain, for their help in the germination experiment. This work was supported by the College of Graduate Studies, University of Sharjah, that funded grant for Shaimaa Al-Nablsi and University of Sharjah Research Office that funded the Environmental and Chemical Biology Research Group (program code 1702145053-P).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Applied Biology, College of Sciences, University of Sharjah, PO Box 27272, Sharjah, UAE

    Shaimaa Al-Nablsi, Ali El-Keblawy & Kareem A. Mosa

  2. Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Al-Arish University, Al-Arish, Egypt

    Ali El-Keblawy

  3. Department of Biotechnology, Faculty of Agriculture, Al-Azhar University, Cairo, Egypt

    Kareem A. Mosa

  4. Department of Medicinal Chemistry, College of Pharmacy, University of Sharjah, PO Box 27272, Sharjah, UAE

    Sameh Soliman

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  1. Shaimaa Al-Nablsi
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  2. Ali El-Keblawy
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  4. Sameh Soliman
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Correspondence to Ali El-Keblawy.

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Al-Nablsi, S., El-Keblawy, A., Mosa, K.A. et al. Variation among individuals of Citrullus colocynthis from a desert population in morphological, genetic, and germination attributes. Trop Ecol 63, 171–182 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s42965-021-00190-1

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