Endemic wild iris species in Syria (Iris aurantica, Iris damascena): classification, botanical description, morphological, in vitr

ID: 613 / 313

Category: Abstract

Track: Pending

Proposed Symposium Title: Endemic wild iris species in Syria (Iris aurantica, Iris damascena): classification, botanical description, morphological, in vitr

Authors:

Thuraya Abou zedan1, Khalil AlMaarri2, Nabil Albatal2

Affiliations: (1) National Commission for Biotechnology, Damascus ,Syria (2) Faculty of Agriculture, P.O.Box. 30621, Damascus University, Syria

Abstract:

In Syria, Iris is considered as a wild perennial herbaceous plant that subjected to strict protection, though Iris grows naturally in many regions of Syria. It presents some 30 species grown in Syria, Iris plants in Syria are becoming rare due to both ongoing destruction of their natural habit, as well as over harvesting of wild species and the influencing of modernization, i.e. urbanization, migration, determental climatic and environmental changes, adding the huge destruction of plant biodiversity by the hard war since 12 years.

 Iris aurantica L is one of the important species that belongs to the family Iridaceae, endemic to Jabal Al `Arab, rhizomatous (with thick, creeping underground stems).  wild golden iris  has a compact rhizome and falcate leaves. It has a slender stem with flowers golden yellow to coppery-brown. The golden iris in Syria is becoming rare due to destruction of their natural habit. In this paper, plant classification, botanical description, morphological, geographical, chemical composition, in vitro propagation and conservation, and cryopreservation of  two endemic iris (Iris aurantica and iris damascene) are investigated.

 

Symposia selection: 21, 202, 36

Key words: Endemic wild iris, Botanical description, Micro propagation, Conservation.