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Molecular characterization using SSR markers and biochemical analysis of Moroccan and Spanish argan [Argania spinosa (L.) Skeels] ecotypes under water stress and rewatering

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Abstract

An integrated molecular and biochemical approach was carried out to compare Moroccan and Spanish argan [Argania spinosa (L.) Skeels] ecotypes. Genetic diversity of seedlings was evaluated using Simple Sequence Repeat (SSR) markers. In addition, water stress was imposed by holding water and enzymatic peroxidase (POX), superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) activities and total proteins in well-watered and water-deficient conditions were evaluated. The molecular characterization of the two ecotypes showed that the number of presumed alleles revealed by the SSR analysis ranged from 1 to 32 alleles per locus, with a mean value of 13 alleles and a mean heterozygosity value of 0.44. The assayed SSRs showed that most individuals were clustered according to their ecotype with a similar diversity level between Moroccan and Spanish ecotypes. Enzymatic activities in response to drought stress showed increase in POX and SOD activities for both ecotypes together with total protein content, but showed no significant differences in CAT activity. A potential tolerance to drought stress with increased levels of SOD activity in Spanish ecotypes grown in inland area of Alicante compared with Moroccan ecotypes grown in Essaouira, which is a coastal area, was also reported. In addition, the recovery period seemed to be sensed by argan plants as a new stress situation, as observed by the response of POX and CAT activities, suggesting an imbalance in the H2O2 metabolism. Our results suggestd an effect of geographic proximity and population isolation and/or breeding system on molecular phenotypes and responses to drought stress of the studied argan ecotypes. However, further investigations are needed to verify the induced differences.

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Abbreviations

ABR:

Argan biosphere reserve

APX:

Ascorbates Peroxidade

CAT:

catalase

CEBAS-CSIC:

Centro de Edafología y Biología Aplicada del Segura-Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas

N:

nitrogen

P:

phosphorus

PD:

power of discrimination

POX:

peroxidase

ROS:

Reactive Oxygen Species

SOD:

superoxide dismutase

SSR:

Simple sequence repeat

UNESCO:

United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization

UPGMA:

unweighted pair group method with arithmetic mean

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Acknowledgements

This study has been supported by projects: “Selection and characterization of drought resistant almond cultivars from the Mediterranean basin with high nutraceutical values” (Nut4Drought) from ARIMNET-2 European Program and “Breeding stone fruit species assisted by molecular tools” from the Seneca Foundation of the Region of Murcia (19879/GERM/15).

Funding

This study has been supported by projects: “Selection and characterization of drought resistant almond cultivars from the Mediterranean basin with high nutraceutical values” (Nut4Drought) from ARIMNET-2 European Program and “Breeding stone fruit species assisted by molecular tools” from the Seneca Foundation of the Region of Murcia (19879/GERM/15).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Biotechnologies, Materials and Environment Team, Faculty of Sciences, Ibn-Zohr University, Agadir, Morocco

    Samira Bnikkou & Abdellatif Laknifli

  2. Molecular Engineering, Valorization and Environment Team (GMVE), Polydisciplinary Faculty of Taroudant, Ibn-Zohr University, Taroudant, Morocco

    Khalid Majourhat

  3. Department of Horticultural Science, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran

    Sara Jalili

  4. Department of Plant Breeding, CEBAS-CSIC, Murcia, Spain

    José Antonio Hernandez, Pedro Martínez-Gómez & Pedro José Martínez-García

Authors
  1. Samira Bnikkou
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  2. Abdellatif Laknifli
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  3. Khalid Majourhat
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  4. Sara Jalili
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  5. José Antonio Hernandez
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  6. Pedro Martínez-Gómez
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  7. Pedro José Martínez-García
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Contributions

Maintenance of germplasm collections and experimental assys: PM-G, AL, SB and PJM-G. Performed SSR analysis: SB, PJM-G and SJ. Biochemical analysis: SB and JAH. Analysed and discussed the data: SB, AL, KM, JAH, PJM-G and PM-G.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Pedro Martínez-Gómez.

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The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

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Bnikkou, S., Laknifli, A., Majourhat, K. et al. Molecular characterization using SSR markers and biochemical analysis of Moroccan and Spanish argan [Argania spinosa (L.) Skeels] ecotypes under water stress and rewatering. Biologia 76, 799–808 (2021). https://doi.org/10.2478/s11756-020-00626-4

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