TAXONOMIC STUDIES ON INTERSPECIFIC AND INFRASPECIFIC RELATIONSHIPS IN THE GENUS ASTRAGALUS IN EGYPT

Abstract

The relationships among 58 samples representing 23 species, one subspecies and five varieties have been addressed on the basis of information derived from morphological and anatomical characters as well as criteria revealed by SDS­ pAGE of seed protein. In addition chromosome counts have been made for 53 samples representing 22 species, one subspecies and five varieties. The morphological, anatomical and seed protein data were analyzed using the NTSYS-pc software program and the results were presented in four phenograms. The relationships among the studied taxa as shown in the phenograms have been discussed in the light of their morphological, anatomical and seed protein electrophoretic criteria. In addition chromosome counts and the previous taxonomic delimitations of the studied taxa are considered. Except for the proposed two new sections; section Fruticosus which contains A. fruticosus and section Sinaicus which contains A. sinaicus, all the other sections remaind as they were. However the only deviation is the transference of A. mareoticus from section Harpilobus to section Astragalus.