Abstract Book - 3rd International Symposium on Medicinal Plants ...

Shannon‟s diversity index (H`) was 0.58. The genetic distance among pairs of populations was
low. Coridothymus capitatus populations introduced for cultivation showed a good stand and
potential toward producing dry herbage yield (3046 kg/ha). Cultivated populations showed
phenotypic variation in the investigated traits. The results of this study indicate that a broad range
of genetic variation exist among populations of Coridothymus capitatus collected from wild habitats
in Jordan, and among Thymbra spicata populations. Seeds of Coridothymus capitatus and
Thymbra spicata were conserved (ex situ) in seed bank and in the field bank. The results obtained
pave the road for a potential commercial and large-scale cultivation and oil production from
Coridothymus capitatus species.
Key words: Cultivation, phenotypic variation, shanonIndex, thyme.
6.7 The Status of Medicinal Plants in Jordan
Sawsan A. Oran
Dept. of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Sciences, University of Jordan, Amman- Jordan
<strong>Abstract</strong>: Flora of Jordan is rich with regards to its number of plant species. A number of 2978
species belongs to 120 families and 719 genera are recorded in Jordan. 20% of the total flora are
medicinal plants that are used in folk medicine and can be used in pharmaceutical industry. A total
number of medicinal plants are recorded, 363 species of vascular plants, belonging to 263 genera
and 86 families. The taxa recorded are wild plants that occur in Jordan, except few cultivated and
well known to the people in the country.
Key words: Flora, Jordan, medicinal plants, species.
6.8 The history and conservation aspects of plants mentioned in the Qura’n
Shahina A Ghazanfar
Royal Botanic Gardens Kew, UK.
<strong>Abstract</strong>: Several plants are mentioned in the Qura‟n and Hadith that have a history of use as
food, as medicinal or have value for some particular characteristic they hold. Twenty plants are
mentioned in the Qura‟n and some fifty four plants in the Hadith. Most of the plants in the Qura‟n
can be identified to present day plants by the mention of their classical Arabic name. A couple,
however, are difficult to name with certainty, and suggestions to their identity have been put
forward with regard to the context in which these have been referred to. Here, I illustrate a few
plants that have been mentioned several times in the Qur‟an and trace their natural history and
that of their use and cultivation, and, in the current environment of global climate change and
habitat loss, discuss why it is important to conserve them and their cultural history.
Key words: Arabia, conservation, cultural history, medicinal plants, quranic plants.
6.9 The Eco-Geographic Distribution and Molecular Diversity of Wild Akkob
(Gundelia tournefortii L.) in Jordan
Susan Dura
Biotechnology Department, NCARE, Jordan.
<strong>Abstract</strong>: Akkob (Gundelia tournefortii L.) is an important edible plant growing wild in Jordan
and it‟s known for its pharmaceutical value. A better understanding of its genetic diversity and
distribution are essential for its conservation and use. Nineteen populations of G. tournefortii were
collected from various regions in Jordan, those representing three eco-geographical systems.
RAPD and SSR markers were used to assess genetic diversity of G. tournefortii populations.
Twenty four primers were used to amplify 51 bands out of which 42 (82.4%) were polymorphic.
Cluster analysis was able to produce three major groups and four subgroups and the genetic
distance was 8.58. Analysis of molecular variance (AMOVA) revealed differences among groups
accounted for 38.6% of the total variation, whereas differences among populations and within
populations were 40.9 and 20.5%, respectively.
Key words: Asteraceae, genetic diversity,Gundelia tournefortii, ISSR, RAPD.
125