Abstract

The analysis of morphological variation and molecular polymorphism as revealed by random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) of ten populations of Artemisia monosperma and Artemisia judaica confirmed the differentiation of A. monosperma and A. judaica as two distinct species and showed wider variations among A. judaica populations compared to those of A. monosperma populations. Karyotype analysis revealed that all A. monosperma populations are tetraploid with 2n=36 and a basic number of x=9, while all samples of A. judaica are diploid with 2n=16 and x=8. Like most other species of Artemisia both species have symmetric karyotype but the chromosomes of A. monosperma are generally shorter and three populations of this species have a B chromosome. The populations of A. judaica growing in the mountains of Sinai were clearly distinguished from other populations growing at lower elevations in other parts of Egypt based on morphological differences. However, these two populations differ in chromosome length being 4.85±0.42 μm for those growing in wadi beds and 3.81±0.28 μm for the population growing on the terraces. The latter population is clearly distinguished by RAPD profiling from the other four populations supporting the recognition of some populations of A. judaica in South Sinai as a separate variety.

Key words: Genetic diversity, Artemisia, karyotype, molecular variations, Egypt.