Ecophysiological and Genetic Studies on Some Species of the Genus Suaeda Forssk ex Scop. In the Mediterranean Sea Coast

2 Abstract: Suaeda is one of the most important native flora in Egypt deserts, have a great polymorphic characters between and within their species. Due to the lack of information on ecophysiological and genetic behaviors of Suaeda genus, this study aimed to clarify ecophysiological and genetic behaviors of three species of Suaeda, S. vera, S. pruinosa and S. vermiculata. Samples had been collected from different habitats along the Mediterranean Coast of Egypt. The results showed that CaCO was higher in soil supporting both S. vera 3 and S. pruinosa and lower in soil supporting S. vermiculata. Ca decreased under saline conditions in the three studied species and total soluble carbohydrates increased. Crude protein decreased under saline conditions in both S. vera and S. vermiculata. Ascorbic acid increased in S. vera and S. pruinosa under saline conditions and decreased in S. vermiculata under saline conditions. Proline increased and betaine decreased in S. pruinosa while betaine increased and proline decreased in S. vermiculata under saline conditions. SDS-PAGE protein of the studied species produced 50% of polymorphism. Eight isozyme systems including acid phosphatase, alcohol dehydrogenase, and -esterases, aldehyde oxidase, malic acid, malate dehydrogenase and peroxidase produced 76% of polymorphism. Five RAPD and five ISSR primers produced 73% and 99% of polymorphism. AFLP produced 48% of polymorphism. ISSR relatively produced higher polymorphism than RAPD and AFLP. The PCR product using specific primer of CMO and BADH genes generated bands with fragment size 500 bp and 1000 bp, respectively proofing that glycine betaine mechanisms for salinity tolerance is used by all Suaeda genotypes in different habitats.