Assessment of Genetic Variability among Selected Species of Amaranthaceae Based on atpJl Gene Promoter

Abstract

Amaranthaceae called as "amaranth family" contains rich medicinal plants in the form of herbs, shrubs, subshrubs and lianas existing as annuals or perennials. Throughout the world the family comprises of 180 genera and 2,500 species (Townsend et aI., 1993). Amaranthaceae are maximally allocated in tropical but also in temperate regions. Several of the species tolerate saline soils i.e. halophytes, or may be found in dry places. In Pakistan this family is distributed in different regions like, Achyranthus aspera is reported in Chars ada city of Khyber Pakhtun khuah (Ahmad et aI., 2015). Some species of Amaranthaceae are found in Thai Desert Punjab, Pakistan that are Achyranthes aspera, Aerva javanica, Alternanthera pungens, Amaranthus graecizans, Amaranthus ovalifolius, Amaranthus viridis, Atriplex schugnanica, Celosia argentea, Digera muricata, Haloxylon salicornicum, Haloxylon stocksii, Pupalia lappacea, Salsola imbricata and Suaedafruticosa (Shaheen et aI., 2014). Amaranthus viridis is also found in District Bannu, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan (Khan et aI., 2013).