Halophile wheatgrass Thinopyrum elongatum (Host) D.R. Dewey (Poaceae) in three Apulian coastal wetlands: vegetation survey and genetic diversity

Three Apulian (SE Italy) coastal sites, Torre Canne to Torre San Leonardo (T), Punta della Contessa SaltPans (S) and the La Vela Swamp (P), characterised by sandy shores and salt marshes recognised aswetland environments belonging to the Natura 2000 network, were selected as study areas in orderto survey the vegetation zonation, plant communities, ecological context and genetic diversity ofThinopyrum elongatum population within humid habitats. Analysis of vegetation, plant communitiesand soil samplings were carried out to investigate the ecological context of 24 populations collectedof this halophile wheatgrass, along with biochemical characterization (A-PAGE, SDS-PAGE, andIEFxSDS-PAGE) of seed storage proteins, used to assess the genetic diversity intra- and inter-populationsand genotype frequencies. Thinopyrum elongatum populations showed a significative presence inthe halophile shrub plant communities of salt marshes, especially those characterised by Limbardacrithmoides and Artemisia caerulescens. The differences of the protein patterns, suggest the presence inthe T area of a higher genetic variability and a greater resistance to the numerous factors of humanpressure. The results have been discussed hypothesizing that this multidisciplinary approach could beconsidered a model to evaluate in the future the same environments or other similar ones, subjectedto anthropogenic pressures and environmental changes.