Eco-taxonomic study of family Brassicaceae of District Mardan, Khyber Pukhtoon- Khwa, Pakistan

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1 Eco-taxonomic study of family Brassicaceae of District Mardan, Khyber Pukhtoon- Khwa, Pakistan Niaz Ali Khan, Mohib Shah* Department of Botany, Abdul Wali Khan University, Mardan, Pakistan. *Corresponding author: ABSTRACT A total of 27 plant species belonging to 19 genera of the family Brassicaceae were collected from different localities of District Mardan. In which five plant species were belonging to genus Brassica, 3 species to Lepidium. Malcolmia and Raphanus had 2 species each, while Alyssum, Arabis, Capsella, Cardamine, Cardaria, Coronopus, Descurainia, Eruca, Farsetia, Goldbachia, Nasturtium, Neslia, Notoceras, Rorippa and Sisymbrium had one species each. The wild species were Alyssum desertorum, Arabis taraxacifolia, Capsella bursa-pastoris, Cardamine hirsuta, Cardaria draba, Coronopus didymus, Descurainia sophia, Farsetia jacquemontii, Goldbachia laevigata, Lepidium apetalum, Lepidium sativum, Malcolmia cabulica, Neslia apiculata, Notoceros bicorne, Rorippa indica, and Sisymbrium irio. There were 13.7% xerophytes, 82.7% mesophytes and 3.4%. Hydrophytes. According to Abundance scale, 41% were frequent, 17% occasional, 14% abundant, 7% very rare, 4% and 3% were dominant and rare species respectively. Phenological behavior indicated that most plants grown in spring season in which 41% were non palatable, 23% less palatable and 38% highly palatable. Life form classes indicated 66% therophytes followed by 17% chaemophytes, 14% hemicryptophytes and 3% Geophytes. Conservation status had shown that 42.85% were infrequent followed by 38.09% rare and 19.04% vulnerable. It was concluded that members of the Brassicaceae need attention not only for its cultivation but emphasis must be made on conservation for sustainable utilization of plant resources. Key words: Phenology, Palatability, Life form, Leaf form, Mardan. Introduction The study area is located between to north latitudes and to east longitudes. The district has two main parts, North-eastern hilly area and South-western plain. The entire Northern side of the district is bounded by hills. The highest points in these hills are Pajja or Sakra, 2056 meter high and Pato, 1816m high. The South-western part of the district is mostly composed of fertile plains with low hills strewn across it. The relative humidity is quite high throughout the year while maximum humidity has been recorded in December. i.e %. The area provides habitat for the growth of a large number of plants. It has rich diversity of plant resources. 28

2 Family Brassicaceae, the flowering plant family also known as Cruciferae (cross bearing). The family contains many species of great economic importance. This family provides much of the world s winter vegetables; these include cabbage, cauliflower, turnip, radish, broccoli etc. The other well-known members of the family include rapeseeds, mustard, watercress and Arabidopsis thaliana, which is the model organism and the most intensely studied member of this family. Brassicaceae is an important family of the plant kingdom which includes several plants of major economic importance [1]. It has been proposed that invasive plants are often less palatable or better able to compensate for biomass losses by herbivory than related, non-invasive species growing in the same area [2]. Beside this available work are those of [3-7]. Fig.1 Map of the studied site, District Mardan, Khyber-Pakhtun khwa, Pakistan. Material and Methods The area was surveyed throughout the year from time to time in order to collect plant specimens belonging to the family Brassicaceae. It provides an opportunity to make maximum plant collection and field observations during the blooming and fruiting stages. So, therefore frequent field trips were arranged in different seasons of the year, especially in spring season because most of the species appears in this season. Twelve sites were selected which had different habitat conditions and were regularly visited from October 2010 to August But most of the species were collected in months of March, April and May. The sites were Katlang, Takht Bhai, Jamal Garhi, Rustam, Spenkai, Mardan Dagai, and Sheikh Maltoon. The collected species were identified and named through the available literature [8] (1965) and Flora of Pakistan [9]. These species were dried and preserved and mounted on a standard herbarium sheets and were submitted to Herbarium. Voucher numbers were allotted and deposited in the herbarium of Botany Department, Abdul Wali Khan University, Mardan. The life 29

3 form and leaf form of the species were determined. The abundance of the species was was also determined by using abundance scale. The taxonomic descriptions of the collected species were also written and keys to the species were made. Statistically different parameters were showed by chart and histograms. Questionnaire method was also used to collect information from local farmers. Results The results revealed that a total of 27 species belonging to 19 genera of the family Brassicaceae were identified from the research area. 5 species belonged to genus Brassica, 3 species to genus Lepidium. Malcolmia and Raphanus have 2 species each while Alyssum, Arabis, Capsella, Cardamine, Cardaria, Coronopus, Descurainia, Eruca, Farsetia, Goldbachia, Nasturtium, Neslia, Notoceras, Rorippa and Sisymbrium have one species each. The aim of study is to explore, document and identify the maximum number of species of family Brassicaceae in the studied research area. The main focus was laid on the wild species. These wild species are (Alyssum desertorum, Arabis taraxacifolia, Capsella bursapastoris, Cardamine hirsuta, Cardaria draba, Coronopus didymus, Descurainia sophia, Farsetia jacquemontii, Goldbachia laevigata, Lepidium apetalum, Lepidium sativum, Malcolmia cabulica, Neslia apiculata, Notoceros bicorne, Rorippa indica, and Sisymbrium irio). Along with this cultivated species were also collected, which were economically important. Besides these wild species Nasturtium officinale is an aquatic species and some ornamental species were also present in district Mardan. They were (Iberis ammara, Lobularia maritima and Mathiola incana). In order to explore the species of the family Brassicaceae, the taxonomy and ecology were considered. The taxonomic notes were written on each plant and ecological parameters such as Habitat (Xerophytes made 13.7%, Mesophytes 82.7% and Hydrophytes constituted 3.4%), Abundance (41%were frequent, 17% occasional, 14% abundant, 7% very rare, 4% & 3% were dominant and rare respectively), Phenology, Palatability (41% were non palatable, 23% less palatable and 38% highly palatable.) life form (Therophytes dominated with 66%, followed by Chamaephytes 17%, Hemicryptophytes 14% and Geophytes 3%. leaf form, mesophylls (34%), followed by microphylls (28%), macrophylls (17%) nanophylls (10%), and leptophylls (10%), conservation status (42.85% were infrequent followed by 38.09% rare and 19.04% vulnerable) were also determined and studied as follows. 30

4 38% Highly palatable 23% 41% Less palatable Non palatable 45% 40% 35% 30% 25% 20% 15% 10% 5% 0% 3% 4% 7% 14% 17% 41% 45% 40% 35% 30% 25% 20% 15% 10% 5% 0% Fig. 2. Palatability ratio of the plant species Brassicaceae, of family Brassicaceae District Mardan. Fig. 3. Abundance of the members of family of family Brassicaceae of District of Marcdan. 70% 60% 50% 40% 30% 20% 10% 0% 66% 17% 14% 3% 40% 35% 30% 25% 20% 15% 10% 5% 0% 34% 28% 17% 10% 10% Fig. 4. Life form spectrum of members of. the family Brassicaceae, District Mardan Fig. 5. Leaf form spectrum of members of the family Brassicaceae, District Mardan. Table 1. Life form and palatability status of the plants of family Brassicaceae, District Mardan. S.NO Name of Species Local Name Life Leaf Form Form Abundance Palatabality Phenology 01 Alyssum desertorum Stapf Alsi CH Lap vr Non-palatable Feb-April 02 Arabis taraxacifolia T. And. - TH Mes f Non-palatable Feb-April 03 Brassica oleraceae var. botrytis Linn. ghopi TH Mac va Highly-Pal Feb-March 04 Brassica oleraceae var. italica Linn. - H Mac f Highly-Pal Feb-March 05 Brassica oleraceae var. capitata Linn. Band ghopi H Mes va Highly-Pal Feb-March 06 Brassica napus Linn. Sharsham TH Mes va Highly-Pal March-April 31

5 07 Brassica nigra Linn. Tor Sharsham TH Mes a Highly-Pal March-April 08 Brassica juncea Linn. Garam sag TH Mac a Highly-Pal March-April 09 Brassica rapa Linn. Taper TH Mes va Highly-Pal March-April 10 Capsella bursa-pastoris (L.) Medik. Bambesa TH Mes f Non-palatable March-April 11 Cardamine hirsuta Linn. Charg botay G Mic f Less-Pal Feb-May 12 Cardaria draba (L.) Desv. - CH Mic O Less-Pal April-July 13 Coronopus didymus (L.) Smith Ganda botay H Lap d Highly-Pal March-June 14 Descurainia sophia (L.) Webb & Berth. - TH Lap O Non-palatable April-July 15 Eruca sativa Mill. Jamama CH Mes f Less-Pal March-June 16 Farsetia jacquemontii Hook.f. & Thoms. - TH Nan r Non-palatable March-June 17 Goldbachia laevigata (M.Bieb.) DC. Gul bacha CH Mac O Less-Pal March-April 18 Lepidium apetalum Willd. - TH Mic f Non-palatable March-June 19 Lepidium pinnatifidum Ledeb. Alam CH Nan O Non-palatable March-June 20 Lepidium sativum Linn. - TH Nan f Non-palatable March-June 21 Malcolmia africana (L.) R. Br. Bashka TH Mic O Non-palatable March-May 22 Malcolmia cabulica Boiss. - TH Mic f Non-palatable March-May 23 Nasturtium officinale R. Br. Tara Mira TH Mes a Non-palatable March-July 24 Neslia apiculata Fisch., C.A. Mey &Ave-Lall - TH Mic f Less-Pal March-April 25 Notoceras bicorne (Ait.) Amo. - H Mic vr Non-palatable March-June 26 Raphanus raphanistrum Linn. Zangali Moli TH Mes f Highly-Pal Jan-April 27 Raphanus sativus Linn. Moli TH Mes a Highly-Pal Jan-April 28 Rorippa indica (L.) Hiern Sharsham plar TH Mic f Less-Pal April-June 29 Sisymbrium irio Linn. Khoob kalan TH Mac f Highly-Pal March-May Key: a= abundant, va= very abundant, f= frequent, O= occasional, r= rare vr= very rare, d= dominant,th= Therophyte, CH= Chamaephyte, G= Geophyte, H= Hemicryptophyte, Lap= Laptophyll, Mic= Microphyll, Mes= Mesophyll, Mac= Macrophyll, Nan= Nanophyll Table 2. Conservation status of the plants of family Brassicaceae, District Mardan. Species name English name Local name Conservation status Alyssum desertorum Stapf Desert madwort Alsi V Arabis taraxacifolia T. And. Rock cress - R Capsella bursa-pastoris (L.) Medik. Shepherd s purse Bambesa I Cardamine hirsuta Linn. Bitter cress Charg botay I Cardaria draba (L.) Desv. Hoary cress - R Coronopis didymus (L.) Smith Lesser swine-cress Ganda botay I Descurainia sophia (L.) Webb & Berth. Tansly mustard - R Eruca sativa Mill. Garden rocket Jamama R Farsetia jacquemontii Hook.f. & Thoms. - - V Goldbachia laevigata (M.Bieb.) DC. - Gul bacha I Lepidium apetalum Willd. Peppergrass - R Lepidium pinnatifidum Ledeb. Pepper weed Alam R Lepidium sativum Linn. Garden cress - R Malcolmia africana (L.) R. Br. Malcolm stock Bashka I Malcolmia cabulica Boiss. - - V Nasturtium officinale R. Br. Water cress Tara Mira I Neslia apiculata Fisch., C.A. Mey &Ave- - - I Notoceras bicorne (Ait.) Amo. Horn Hedge-mustard - V Raphanus raphanistrum Linn. Wild radish Zangali Moli R 32

6 Rorippa indica (L.) Hiern Yellow cress Sharsham plar I Sisymbrium irio Linn. London rocket Khoob kalan I Key: V= Vulnerable, R= Rare, I= Infrequent 19.04% Vulnerable 38.09% Rare 42.85% Infrequent 45.00% 40.00% 35.00% 30.00% 25.00% 20.00% 15.00% 10.00% 5.00% 0.00% Fig. 6. Conservation status assessment of the members of the family Brassicaceae. Discussion District Mardan has an interesting location of biodiversity. This survey was undertaken with an aim to explore, identify and document the members of family Brassicaceae. In future, it will be helpful a good draft to serve the conservation and sustainable utilization of plant resources of the area. So in the light of recorded data, a total of 27 species belonging to 19 genera of the family were collected from the area. The family Brassicaceae included several species of considerable economic importance especially as vegetable crops and sources of spices and edible and industrial oils. Brassicaceae is an important family of the plant kingdom which includes several plants of major economic importance [1]. Oils of Brassica probably rank 1 st in terms of tonnage of the world s production of edible oils. Oil seed crops are relatively new crops to the high plains mostly for usage as vegetable and industrial oils, spices and birds feed. Crops area of oilseed crops of the family Brassicaceae e.g. Brown mustard (Brassica juncea), Canola (Brassica napus), and Camelina (Camelina sativa) can increase in the plains to fulfill this demand. As most of the flora of the district are exotic so, the plants belonging to family Brassicaceae collected from the research area are mostly non-palatable. It has been proposed that invasive plants are often less palatable or better able to compensate for biomass losses by herbivory than related, non-invasive species growing in the same area[2]. Among the aquatic species belonging to family Brassicaceae only two species were reported from the research area Nasturtium officinale and Rorippa indica. The later species is mostly aquatic or amphibious and found on the sides of streams. A species of Rorippa palustris is autogamous herb capable of sprouting from the roots[3]. Phenological study was also taken into consideration most of the species of family Brassicaceae may be are wild or cultivated or ornamental generally bloom in spring season in the research area. Mostly the cultivated and ornamental species of this family have beautiful colors of their flowers 33

7 which attract insect for pollination. A study have claimed that flower in bloom in particular time of year are much likely to be of particular color to better attract pollinating insects [4]. The life form and leaf form of collected species of family Brassicaceae were also studied and determined from the research area.[5] studied and investigated the life form of Brassicaceae in protected region of sarigol. The plants collected from the region are taken into consideration for study the members of family Brassicaceae, have different habitats some were present in the desert and hilly area, some are inhabited in plains area on roadsides, waste places etc. 10 species of the family Brassicaceae representing different habitats in Hail region were studied. Beside this the ecological parameters such as Abundance, conservation status of the plants were also studied. The species belonging to family Brassicaceae distributed throughout the study region. References [1] Bhati J, H Sonah, T Jhang, NK Singh and TR Sharma Comparative Analysis and ESTMining Reveals High Degree of Conservation among Five Brassicaceae Species. Comparative and Functional Genomics. [2] Buschmann H, PJ Edwards, H Dietz Responses of native and invasive Brassicaceae species to slug herbivory. Acta Oecologica, 30 (2): [3] Klimesova J, J Martinkova, M Kocvarova Biological flora of Central Europe: Rorippa palustris (L.) Besse. Flora - Morphology, Distribution, Functional Ecology of Plants, 199 (6): [4] Arnold S, EJ, SC Le Comber and L Chittka Flower color phenology in European grassland and woodland habitats, through the eyes of pollinators. Israel Journal of Plant Sciences 57: [5] Nadaf M and SM Mortazavi Investigation flora and life-form of plants in Protected Region Sarigol (North Khorasan Province) Iran. Pak. J. Biol. Sci., 14(1): [6] Severoglu Z, V Altay, D D Ozyigit, M Keskin, M Serin, C Yarci, U Yasar and G Demir Some ecological characteristics and the flora of Golcuk District and its environs (Kocaeli-Turkey). Scientific Research and Essays 6(4). [7] Yavari A and SM Shahgolzari Floristic Study of Khan-Gormaz Protected Area in HamadanProvince, Iran. Int. J. Agric. Biol., 12 (2): [8] Ali SI and YJ Nasir Flora of Pakistan. Nos Department of Botany, University of Karachi. [9] Pavlista AD and DD Baltensperger Phenology of Oilseed Crops for Bio-Diesel in the High Plains. [10] Buschmann H, PJ Edwards, H Dietz Responses of native and invasive Brassicaceae species to slug herbivory. Acta Oecologica, 30 (2): [11] Klimesova J, J Martinkova, M Kocvarova Biological flora of Central Europe: Rorippa palustris (L.) Besse. Flora - Morphology, Distribution, Functional Ecology of Plants, 199 (6): [12] Arnold SEJ, SC Le Comber and L Chittka Flower color phenology in European grassland and woodland habitats, through the eyes of pollinators. Israel Journal of Plant Sciences 57:

8 [13] Nadaf M and SM Mortazavi Investigation flora and life-form of plants in Protected Region Sarigol (North Khorasan Province) Iran. Pak. J. Biol. Sci., 14(1):