Evaluating genetic diversity using molecular markers, examining growth potential and morphological adaptation in Vachellia nilotica against abiotic stress

Abstract

The current study was designed to assess the genetic diversity based on Inter Simple Sequence Repeats (ISSR) markers, analyzing the growth behavior and biochemical response of Vachellia nilotica against salt stress. For this purpose, a pot experiment was conducted at the Forest Nursery and Experimental Area at the Institute of Forest Sciences, The Islamia University of Bahawalpur. The disease free, homogenous and uniform sized seedlings of Vachellia nilotica were collected from the nursery and shifted into the pots. Seventeen plants of this species were taken and applied six different treatments such as T₁ (control), T₂ (10 dSm^-1), T₃ (15 dSm^-1), T₄ (20 dSm^-1), T₅ (25 dSm^-1), and T₆ (30 dSm^-1). Each treatment contains three replicates. The results show that plant height, plant diameter, shoot dry weight, and root dry weight were maximum in T₁ (Control) and minimum in T₆ (30 dSm^-1) respectively. Furthermore, the biochemical parameters such as SOD, POD, and CAT concentration were maximum (33.9 U mg^-1 Protein, 15.36 U mg^-1 Protein, 5.3 U mg^-1 Protein) in T₆ (30 dSm^-1) and minimum (19.22 U mg^-1 Protein, 11.21 U mg^-1 Protein, 2.7 U mg^-1 Protein) in T₁ (control). But in the case of photosynthetic parameters, such as chl a and chl b contents, were maximum (0.52 mg g^-1FW,0.32 mg g^-1FW,0.84 mg g^-1FW) in T₁ (control) and minimum (0.21 mg g^-1FW,0.16 mg g^-1FW,0.38 mg g^-1FW) in T₆ (30 dSm^-1). Seventeen Vachellia nilotica species were analyzed with seven ISSR markers to evaluate genetic relationships among the plants. The molecular characterization of all ISSR amplification profiles of the selected plants revealed polymorphic bands. The obtained findings will be helpful in the future to recover salt-affected soils in Pakistan.