Study On Epimedium Resources Based On Microidentification, Karotype And Isozyme In Sichuan Province

Epimedium belonged to Berberidaceae, According to Steam's classification system There were almost 59 species in the world, locating in a narrow area which between the east of Asia-Japan and the west of the North Africa-Algeria. Epimedium had undergone marked secies radiations in tropic and temperate zones, mainly distributing in China. There were almost 48 species in China, distributing in most areas especially in the southwest regions. There were about 22 species distributing in Sichuan provine according to the last research.They were important chinese medicine and significant for phylogenetic research of angiosperm. As the well-established traditional chinese herb, Epimedium was first described in "shin-nong Bonchokyeong" and was classified as middle grade with the effective treatment of cardiovascular disease, male sexual dysfunction, Regulation immunity, cancer treatment and anti-aging. Owing to its long-term overexploitation, the wild resource of Epimedium, as well as its specific and genetic diversity, decreased rapidly in recent years. Today the medicinal production was in serious difficulty owing to the shortage of Epimedium resources.In order to establish basis for evaluating and using the resources of genus Epimedium in Sichuan province further, We investigated the resources of genus Epimedium in Sichuan province, analysed their Leaf epidemis microidentification characteristics, its karyotype and isozyme analysis. The main results were shown as follows:(1) According to the investgation and identification,22 species Epimedium in Sichuan were reported, Among them about 13 species are the endemic species. E pubesense, E sagittatum, E. brevicornu, E. koreanum were involved in pharmcopeia,except E. koreanum, another three species in pharmcopeia were distributed in Sichuan.The population size had decreased shaarply. Artificial factors were the essential reasons which resulted in this species vulnerable status and the species should be protected immediately.(2) The karyotype analysis showed that Karyotype of the barrenwort species were similar to each other, with one pair of m satellite chromosomes and symmetric karyotype, the karyotype formlas of these 7 Epimedium is 2n=2x=6m(2SAT)+6sm, The root-tip cells of E.chlorandrum exist chromosome chimerism.(3) Leaf epidermis of 9 species of plant, which belong to Epimedium have been examined under light microscope. Through the leaf stomata index data were statistically analyzed, Obtained after cluster analysis, It's reasonable to divide the E pimedium into 2 groups-The large flower groups and The small flower groups, it was reasonable for us to use leaf stomata index as the basis of classification. The taxonomic researches on the Epimedium were made through specimens identification. We found most species of E pimedium could be specified by characteristics of non-glandularhairs on the abaxial epidermis of leaves, and the key for indentification of hairs as well as photomicrograph were also presented. Both methords provide a reliable basis for classification of Epimedium plants for herbs.(4) The zyomograms of POD and EST Isozyme showed that:all the 13 materies had a few bands, The experimental material with only 6 POD enzyme, and 4 EST enzyme, The results showed that It was reasonable for us to divided the Epimedium into 2 groups-big flowers population and small flowers population.