Taxonomic and Demographic Studies on Three Species Complexes Within the Genus Alole L. (Aloaceae)in Ethiopia
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Date
2006-06
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Addis Ababa University
Abstract
Taxonomic and demographic studies were conducted on three species complexes within
the genus Aloe L. (Aloaceae) in Ethiopia. The studies aimed to contribute new additional
knowledge necessary to delineate the Aloe species and their conservation in the Flora of
Ethiopia and Eritrea (FEE).In the taxonomic study, the status of 11 species was evaluated using morphological and
molecular (AFLP) data. Morphological data were collected from herbarium specimens,
fresh materials and literature. Data matrices were constructed for qualitative, quantitative
and combined morphological data sets. Molecular (AFLP) data were obtained from
leaves of randomly selected germinated seedlings. Total genomic DNA was extracted
using a modified 2 x CTAB method described by Doyle and Doyle (1990). AFLP
analysis was performed following a protocol modified from Vos et al. (1995). Fragments
produced by each primer combination were analyzed and scored for the presence (1) or
absence (0) of selected markers/fragments. Binary data matrices were constructed for
each of the primer combinations and also for the combined data set. Each of the data
matrices constructed for morphological and molecular (AFLP) data sets was subjected to
multivariate analyses: cluster analysis (UPGMA) and principal coordinate analysis
(PCO).The results from the analyses of both morphological and AFLP data supported the
present status of nine out of the eleven species: A. harlana Reynolds, A. monticola
Reynolds, A. debrana Christian, A. percrassa Tod., A. yavellana Reynolds, A.
megalacantha Baker, A. gilbertii Sebsebe & Brandham, A. calidophila Reynolds and A.
sinana Reynolds. The boundary between the two caulescent species from the northern
part of the FEE area: A. camperi Schweinf. and A. adigratana Reynolds was not veryclear and particularly the genetic delimitation displayed close relationship. The neighborjoining
tree constructed from combined AFLP data revealed thus weak support for A.
camperi (51%) and A. adigratana (62%) but kept them together with high bootstrap
support (94%).
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Biology