Evaluation of phylogentic relationship among sea buckthorn (Hippophae rhamnoides L. spp turkestanica) wild ecotypes from Pakistan using amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP)

Sea buckthorn (Hippophae rhamonides L) is a very potent medicinal and multipurpose plant which has gained global significance due to its medicinal and multipurpose utility. It bears yellow to orange berries which are known to human beings from centuries for their effects on health. The plant is wildly distributed throughout Northern Areas of Pakistan. The phylogenetic relationship among these natural Sea buckthorn ecotypes from Northern Areas of Pakistan is not established so for using reliable molecular markers. AFLP has been proved to be an effective tool for the determination of phylogenetic relationship among closely related species. To provide a population level genetic profile for investigation and exploitation of genetic diversity of Sea buckthorn (Hippophae rhamnoides sub spp. turkestanica), 25 plant samples selcted from natural populations of Sea buckthorn in Pakistan were analyzed using AFLP (Amplified Fragment Length Polymorphisim) markers the University of Sussex, UK. Phylogenetic distance estimated revealed that the ecotypes expressed common heritage for their phylogenetic relationship with a considerable genetic diversity among them as well. Quite a few ecotypes showed close relationship irrespective of their geographic distances and morphological attributes. The research evolved a significant outcome to start a breeding program for the production of sea buckthorn varieties for the mountain areas of Pakistan and Azad Kashmir.