Phylotaxonomic Investigation of Carex caucasica and Cyperus iria from Bannu, Khyber Pukhtunkhwa, Pakistan

Abstract

Cyperaceae (sedges) is one of the most common flowering plant family. It is tenth largest family among angiosperms, with over 5500 species distributed among 109 genera all over the world. The trigonous stem with typically longer bracts and terminal flowers are the main differentiating traits of the family members. Sedges are herbs that live for a long time. These plants have a part in a variety of bioactivities, as well as having ethnobotanical significance since a variety of plants are used to cure illnesses organically. Species of cyperaceae may be found in a variety of habitats, including waterways, marshlands, bogs, and grasslands. The taxonomy of this family is quite complicated due to the separate inflorescence and multifarious form. The biosystematic examination of two Cyperaceae species from Bannu, Khyber pukhtunkhwa is the focus of this work. Initially, stereomicroscope is used to examine various components of the inflorescence, including the utricle, anthers, pollens, and glumes, in order to reveal morphological characteristics. The micro-morphological characteristics are shown using a scanning electron microscope (SEM). Herbarium specimens were then submitted to PMNH, Islamabad. Molecular analysis is used to validate the identity. DNA is extracted using a 2 percent CTAB DNA extraction procedure, amplified using a polymerase chain reaction and sequenced using two marker genes: ITS and ETS. These sequences were eventually submitted to the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI). For phylogenetic analysis, Geneious prime was utilized. To reveal the phylogeny, three trees (Bayesian, NJ, and maximum likelihood) were created. This computer investigation revealed a close link between species and taxa that are similar. According to the findings, ETS are good marker for identifying these sedge species, whereas additional study is needed to establish that rbcL and matK are suitable markers for relevant species.