Genetic variation of Moringa peregrina populations based on seed storage proteins

Moringa peregrine (Forssk.) Fiori is a valuable species with a vast utilization in nutritional, medicinal, health, and industrial aspects which is under genetic erosion and extinction threat both in Iran and all around its global habitats. Due to its importance and roles, study on its biological aspects such as genetic variation may accelerate its development. For this reason, 11 single trees of four different plant populations of the species, collected from South part of Baluchestan province, of Iran, were used in this study. Extracting, seed storage proteins of the genotypes, SDS-PAGE method of electrophoresis was used to evaluate genetic variation between and within the populations on macromolecule protein level. Performing electrophoresis, fixation and staining the protein bands, presence, or absence of the protein bands were investigated. Regarding the protein bands, based on qualitative criterion, there were not remarkable differences between the studied genotypes and regions to be used for discriminating between the studied genotypes and populations. In contrast with the qualitative differences there were plenty of quantitative differences between the studied genotypes and populations. Since gene flow and genetic interchange between the natural populations through seed transfer is rarely happening in the nature, it is expected to have plant populations with less interchange and more genetic differentiation.