Botanical and genetic characteristics of Lobularia libyca (viv). C.F.W. Meissn. (Brassicaceae)

Abstract

Lobularia libyca (viv). C.F.W. Meissn. is an annual herbaceous desert plant native to North Africa belonging to Family Brassicaceae (Cruciferae). Study of the botanical features was carried out for the root, the young and old stems, leaf, flower and seed of the plant. L. libyca was characterized by the presence of non-glandular branched unicellular two armed hair in the stem, leaf and flower while the root shows narrow cork and xylem occupies about 80% of the diameter of the root. The flower is characterized by hairy sepals and spherical pollen grains with three germ pores and three germ furrows. The pericarp is characterized by hairy epicarp and presence of fibrosclerides as innermost layer of the mesocarp. The septum shows pitted lignified parenchyma. The seed shows accumbent embryo and the testa is characterized by the presence of pigment layer with reddish brown content. The DNA of the plant was extracted from leaf samples and analyzed using eleven random decamer primers. A total of 89 random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) markers were identified. Both the botanical study and the DNA fingerprint helped in the identification of the plant.