Investigation on mechanisms of adaptation of Ammodendron persicum to desert sand dune habitat in arid region

Abstract

Sand dune habitats in desert regions have harsh conditions for plant establishment and survival. <em>Ammodendron persicum,</em> an psamophyte shrub plant belongs to Leguminosae family, which grows over the desert sand dunes of Zirkohgaen, Gezik and Khash along east part of Iran. Recognizing the adaptive features of the plant species may help towards its conservation and introducing to other sand dune habitats. Therefore, the morphological characteristics of root and shoot, root distribution and forms of regeneration of the species were studied. Observations revealed that each individual plant has a deep taproot along with lateral roots which penetrate in different layers of sand, therefore benefit moisture from top to deeper layers of sand. It has white-grey stems, silver colored and spiny leaf, divided into leaflets. Plant regenerates both through vegetative and reproductive systems. Different mechanisms of adaptation enable the species to adapt in harsh conditions.