Ecology of endangered Prunus korshinskyi Hand.-Mazz. in Jabal Al-Lauz, Saudi Arabia: Plant associations, size structure, and nutritional screening

Publication date: Available online 15 June 2019Source: Saudi Journal of Biological SciencesAuthor(s): Mohamed A. Al-Shehri, Mohamed A. El-Sheikh, Ahmed H. Al-Farhan, Ibrahim A. Arif, R. Rajakrishnan, Abdulrahman A. Alatar, Mohammad Faisal, Riyad A. Basahi, Ghanim A. Al-AbbadiAbstractThe wild Prunus korshinskyi has a restricted distribution in small scattered areas of Jabal Al-Lauz (2580 m above sea level), a mountain in northwestern Saudi Arabia. Major objective of current study is to provide information about P. korshinskyi by analyzing its ecology in terms of floristic diversity, plant associations, environmental features, and its size structure and nutritional value. For this purpose, 12 stands of 20 m2 were selected along the Jabal Al-Lauz mountain ridge. Three plant associations and their environmental variables were identified and characterized after application of a two-way indicator species analysis (TWINSPAN), detrended correspondence analysis (DCA). And canonical correspondence analysis (CCA) as follows: VGI: P. korshinskyi-Astracantha echinus, VGII: Artemisia siberi-P. korshinskyi, and VGIII: Retama raetam-Artemisia sieberi. The edaphic factor affecting the distribution of the associations were pH, potassium and manganese content. The size class frequency distribution of P. korshinskyi shows a J-shape in spring and fall for the whole population; there was no regeneration via seed. Nutritional evaluation showed the fruits had a higher content of total carbohydrate, ...
Source: Saudi Journal of Biological Sciences - Category: Biology Source Type: research