Molecular characterization of Pistacia atlantica Desf. subsp. atlantica (Anacardiaceae) in Algeria: Genome size determination, chromosome count and genetic diversity analysis using SSR markers

- First molecular characterization of natural populations of Pistacia atlantica subsp. atlantica in Algeria.
- Genome size and chromosome number are presented.
- Intraspecific genetic diversity of Pistacia atlantica Desf. subsp. atlantica using SSRs markers in Northwest Algeria is evaluated.

The current study aims at the molecular characterization of Pistacia atlantica Desf. Subsp atlantica in Northwestern Algeria. The genome size estimation was performed for the first time for the species using flow cytometry on 97 samples. The flow cytometry analysis led to estimate a very small genome (2C = 1.21 ± 0.02 pg). Meristematic somatic cells of male floral buds showed the best prometaphase which on (2n = 2x = 30) chromosome complement was observed. Two chromosomes bearing satellites showed evident and large secondary constrictions. sixty-one genotypes were characterized using 6 SSR microsatellites. A total of 26 alleles were amplified. Allele frequencies ranged from 0.008 to 0.68. Eight rare alleles (30.8%) were observed. The observed heterozygosity (Ho) ranged from 0.35 to 0.67, while the expected heterozygosity (He) ranged from 0.48 to 0.77. The loci Pislen 526 and Pislen 114 were the most polymorphic with 7 and 6 observed alleles respectively. Pislen 526 and PKATG014 were the most informative markers. Cluster analysis based on the euclidean distance using (UPGMA) led to observe divergences between genotypes within site and between sites. The current study is the first molecular characterization of the subspecies; it indicated an evident diversity due to a genetic flow between populations. More genetic diversity studies are required to learn about the structure and the evolution of natural P. atlantica subsp. atlantica using more SSR markers and more accessions from other areas.

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