Barleria species (endangered of Al-Baha province, Saudi Arabia) and their phylogenetic study using the internal transcribed spacer sequence of ribosomal DNA

Abstract

The genus Barleria has many potential species whose study is very necessary to search novel genes to improve the other potential crop species. The first step to use the plant is its identification as sometimes morphological mark-ers are less reliable as compared to the biochemical and DNA based markers. The conservation of the endangered plant species is very important in Kingdom of Saudi Arabia as these are important genetic resources. The numbers of endangered plant species are increasing every year in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia due to various harsh environmental conditions. Barleria bispinosa and B. trispinosa are endangered plants of Al-Baha province and whose con-servation is very necessary. We studied its phylogenetic relationship based on the internal transcribed spacer sequence of nrDNA. The marker showed their phylogenetic relationship with the other species of the same genus available at GenBank database and was proven very effective. Thus, nrITS, can be used for the phylogenetic study of the other species of the same fam-ily which is very important to understand the relationship among them.