Pollen morphology provides essential diagnostic traits for species delimitation in the genus Trigonella (Fabaceae) in the Kurdistan
Region of Iraq. Pollen grains of eight species were examined using light microscopy (LM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM),
and quantitative traits were analyzed with ANOVA and Tukey’s HSD tests. Equatorial diameter showed the highest interspecific
variation (P < 0.0001), confirming its strong diagnostic value, with colpus length and mesocolpium width also showing significant
interspecific differentiation. Grains were predominantly tricolporate with triangular polar outlines. Significant variations were observed
in colpus length (16.99 µm in T. monspeliaca to 22.34 µm in T. filipes) and mesocolpium width (12.97 µm in T. monspeliaca to 18.32
µm in T. uncinata). Exine ornamentation varied from finely reticulate to coarse. These pollen characters provide reliable taxonomic
markers for distinguishing Trigonella species in the region and contribute valuable baseline data for future systematic and phylogenetic
studies.
2025-10
Science Journal of University of Zakho
(Issue : 4)
(Volume : 13)
POLLEN MICROMORPHOLOGY OF FOUR Onobrychis SPECIES (Fabaceae) FROM THE KURDISTAN REGION OF IRAQ
Polleniferous materials of four Onobrychis species were used in this study. Two different microscopes and one-way ANOVA analysis were applied. The pollen grains were tricolpate, isopolar, and consistently radially symmetrical. The value of the polar axis/equatorial diameter ranged from prolate to perprolate, which were categorized as tiny or medium in size. Exine sculpture patterns varied significantly when scanning electron microscopy was used: Onobrychis megataphora, O. crista-galli, and O. caput-galli have reticulate patterns; O. galegifolia has micro-reticulate perforates. The pollen morphology of O. caput-galli was noticeably perprolate due to its maximum polar axis/equatorial diameter value (2.02 µm). The O. crista-galli had the lowest polar axis/equatorial diameter value (1.37 µm), showing its prolate pollen morphology. A one-way ANOVA analysis revealed significant differences (P< 0.05) in the morphological features of polar length and equatorial diameter. The O. megataphros was primarily circular to ovoid-triangular in form, and O. caput-galli had a triangular outline. The two remaining species had circular shapes in polar view. In equatorial view, two species had elliptic-elongated shapes, while others had rectangular-obtuse outlines. Thus, these micromorphological dissimilarities indicate variations among taxa, and they can be used as taxonomic characters to identify and delimit Onobrychis species
2025-10
Latin American Journal of Pharmacy
(Issue : 4)
(Volume : 44)
Advancements in the Development of Plant-Based Therapeutics for Chronic Diseases
Chronic diseases such as diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, and cancer are significant contributors to morbidity and mortality globally. Plant therapeutics has gained attention due to their potential to treat
and alleviate symptoms of these diseases. The extensive array of phytochemicals present in medicinal plants,
such as alkaloids, flavonoids, and terpenoids, has demonstrated anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and anti-cancer activities. This mini-review reviews the latest developments in plant-based therapeutics, and how plant
compounds deliver their positive effects through molecular mechanisms. The review also reviews how biotechnological advances can improve the efficacy and yield of plant-derived therapies. Although full of promise,
several challenges confront the development of plant-based therapeutics, such as standardization, toxicity,
and regulation. But clinical trials and research in recent years have proven the effectiveness of plant-derived
compounds in the treatment of chronic diseases, suggesting a promising future for their application in combination with conventional treatment regimens. This review points to the need for continued efforts to fill the
gaps and define the potential of plant-based compounds as a therapeutic agent for the treatment of chronic
diseases further.
The pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) has a rich history of cultivation and is renowned for its beneficial properties and nutrient-dense fruits. Kurdistan Iraq's agricultural, medical, and cultural traditions are the foundation of the pomegranate’s historical significance. The distribution of pomegranates in Kurdistan Iraq, particularly in the Duhok Province, reveals the great importance of genetic diversity among its cultivars. Punica granatum has spread to various parts of the world, including Mediterranean countries, Russia, Japan, India, Afghanistan, Pakistan, California, Iraq, and China. The pomegranate has garnered increasing global interest due to its high nutritional value, and its ornamental, industrial, and medicinal benefits. Identifying molecular markers less affected by environmental conditions is crucial for measuring genetic diversity among pomegranate cultivars and assisting breeders in selecting …
2025-03
Journal of Molecular Structure
(Issue : 135300)
(Volume : 1284)
Phylogenetic analysis of Prunus genus using nuclear and chloroplast gene markers as a bioorganic structure profiling
Prunus species are known as model species for the family Rosaceae and other woody plants with their
small genome size and relatively small life cycle as woody plants. Also Prunus species are economically
important plants in the subfamily Amygdaloideae of the Rosaceae have a controversial taxonomic history
due to the lack of a phylogenetic framework. Therefore, mapping, classification, determination the genetic structure and characterization of genes as a spesific chemical and fuctional units of nucleic acids
and making phylogenetic analysis in these species have important implications. The aim of this study to
find any gene markers as a bioorganic – chemical structure profiling to determine genetic diversity of different Prunus species from Iraq by using nuclear and chloroplast DNA markers to evaluate the phylogeny
of Prunus. A total of 12 species Prunus subgenus amygdalus were collected from Iraq. Ten gene region
markers on both nuclear DNA and chloroplast DNA have been tested to evaluate the genetic variation
at their molecular levels by using multiplex PCR with 10 gene region primers and sequence analysis for
matK. The name of the gene regions using in this study are ITS (ITS1+ITS2+5.8S coding region), rbcL,
matK, rpl16, trnL-trnF, atpB-rbcL, rp136-infA-rps8, trnK-rps16, pbsM-trnD, psbA-trnH. As a result, five different phylogenetic trees were obtained from the gene sequences of the samples and the base sequences
were close to each other. The estimated value of the shape parameter for the discrete Gamma Distribution is 0.05. The nucleotide frequencies are A = 29.41%, T/U = 37.37%, C = 17.52%, and G = 15.67%. The
nucleotide diversity of the sequence was low with the 0.004113 value. There were 14 different informative base site between the samples. The polymorphism observed was less in agreement with higher level
of conservation of the gene regions. The Prunus species from Iraq region were grouped on two closed
clusters on the phylogenetic trees.
2023-03
Food Chemistry
(Issue : 130997)
(Volume : 371)
Development of a SPE/GC–MS method for the determination of organophosphorus pesticides in food samples using syringe filters packed by GNP/MIL-101 (Cr) nanocomposite
In this study, we report the synthesis and application of a nanocomposite comprising metal–organic framework MIL-101(Cr) and graphene nanopowder (GNP) as a promising sorbent for the extraction of organophosphorus pesticides (OPPs) in juices, water, vegetables and honey samples. A syringe filter, for the first time, was used to host the synthesized nanocomposite and extract the OPPs followed by GC–MS analysis. Different characterization methods including XRD, FTIR, TGA, BET and SEM were employed to confirm the formation of studied nanocomposite. The results indicated that the GNP/MIL-101(Cr) could provide higher capacity for adsorption of OPPs and lower detection limit compared to pristine MIL-101(Cr). The detection limits were 0.005 to 15.0 µg/Kg and the linear range found between 0.05 and 400 µg/Kg. The proposed method showed very good repeatability with the RSD values ranging from 2.9 …
2022-03
Bakistan Journal of Botany
(Issue : 30848)
(Volume : 36)
PRUNUS LONGISPINOSA (ROSACEAE): A NEW SPECIES FROM KURDISTAN-IRAQ
Prunus longispinosa S.E. Shahbaz and S.S, Abdulrahman (Rosaceae), a new species from Kurdistan-Iraq, is described and illustrated. It differs from all Iraqi taxa of the subgenus Amygdalus by the dark reddish color of their one-year-old twigs and the very whitish thorny branches. The new species is closely related to P. spinosissima but can be easily separated by its green drupes vs. reddish drupes from one side and green from the other. The new species also shows close resemblance to Prunus lycioides but the later differs from it in having one reddish side and pale green side of their one-year-old twigs and glabrous drupes vs. dark reddish color of their one-year-old twigs and pubescent drupes for the new species.
The polleniferous material of Prunus subg
amygdalus taxa growing in Kurdistan-Iraq was collected.
Samples were tested using scanning electron
and light microscope. Taxa are symmetric, isopolar,
monad, colporate, and trizonocolpate. The main exine
sculpture is striate with or without micro-perforations.
Tetracolporates are present in P. dulcis, P.
persica, and P. carduchorum var. glabra, absent
from all other taxa. Among pollen grain characters,
shape is very useful for separating taxa at the specific
level. Pollen grains of all taxa are of small rank but
on average pollens of P. argental var. argentea are
the smallest, and of P. argentea var. elaeagnifolia
are the largest of all. Principal component analysis
and discriminant analysis can recogniz77.976% and
70.98% of the total variability respectively, thus can
help prediction of taxa.
KEYWORDS:
Prunus subg amygdalus, Prunus longispenosa, Prunus argentea
var. argentea, olporate, P. argentea var. elaeagnifolia,
pollen morphology
2019-11
Nordic journal of botany
(Issue : 1)
(Volume : 56)
Rhus flora coriaria L. var. zebaria S. E. Shahbaz a new variety for the of Iraq
Rhus coriaria var. zebaria from Duhok/Aqrae, Kurdistan, Iraq is described as a variety new to science. Field expeditions started in spring 2011, continued during 2012 and 2013 with the aim of collecting sumac specimens from different physiographic regions of Kurdistan, Iraq. A total of ten plants for each variety were sampled. An equal number of tagged herbarium specimens were prepared. The holotype was designated and deposited together with other herbarium specimens in the herbarium of the Faculty of Agriculture and Forestry, Univ. of Duhok. Morphological characters of the leaf, inflorescence, flowers, infructescence, and fruit were studied. The pH value of the pericarp in addition to the hilum length was measured. Results were compared with Rhus coriaria L. var. coriaria. The most distinctive feature of the new variety is the dull whitish brown color of the drupe pericarp of var. zebaria as compared to the reddish brown color of the drupe pericarp of var. coriaria. The whitish color of the drupes of var. zebaria, in combination with their larger size, represents diagnostic characters for distinguishing this variety. In contrast, most leaf characters are of little or no taxonomic value in this species. Only shape, apex and marginal teeths of the leaflets show minor differences for separating the two varieties. Female and male inflorescences and flowers characters show no significant differences. Both hilum length and pH value characters may be useful for
2015-04
Science Journal of University of Zakho
(Issue : 10.25271)
(Volume : 3)
Use of Leaf Anatomy for Identification of Quercus L. Species Native to Kurdistan-Iraq
Anatomical features of the leaves of Quercus L. species are presented in this study for the first time. Leaves are bifacial and the palisade parenchyma of Q. aegilops and Q. libani is stratified into two layers, of nearly equal width, while that of Q. infectoria and Q.macranthera composed of only one layer. The cortex of both midrib and petiole is well developed with collenchyma starting just beneath the epidermis. The collenchyma of Q. aegilops is extremly thick compared with that of other species. Vascular bundles of the midrib and petiole are completely enclosed by the two pericycle layers of fibers and sclerenchyma. While the number of vascular bundles and sclerenchyma groups cupping them is 3 and 2 for midribs of Q. aegilops and Q. libani respectively, the number turns into 2 vascular elements of different appearance in their petioles. Petiole secondary vascular bundles are well developed and their sclerenchyma groups more lignified in Q. infectoria but less developed and reduced in Q. macranthera. From the results, it is concluded that the leaf blade and petiole anatomical features can provide diagnostic characters for distinguishing Quercus species of Iraq. Results also strongly support placing Q. aegilops and Q. libani in the section Cerris but Q. infectoria is more reliable in the section Mesobalanus.
2015-02
Thesis
2021-04-06
Molecular Plant Taxonomy, Faculty of Science, University of Zakho, Iraq, 2020.
molecular plant taxonomy
2021
Training Course
2012-03-25,2012-04-05
Plant Taxonomy training workshop sponsored by the Kurdistan Botanical Foundation and Nature Iraq.
