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Mountain oases in northern Oman: An environment for evolution and in situ conservation of plant genetic resources

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Abstract

Several botanical studies have been conducted in different parts of Oman, but knowledge about agro-biodiversity in the rapidly decaying ancient mountain oases of this country remains scarce. To fill this gap we assessed the genetic resources of three mountain oases in the al-Hajar range using a GIS-based field survey and farmer interviews. While arid conditions prevail throughout the mountain range, the different elevations of Balad Seet (950–1020 m a.s.l.), Maqta (930–1180 m a.s.l.) and Al Jabal al Akhdar (1750–1930 m a.s.l.) provide markedly differing agro-climatic conditions. Overall, 107 different crop species were identified belonging to 39 families. Species number was highest among fruits (33 spp.), followed by vegetables (24 spp.). Intensive irrigation allows cultivation of a broad range of species at all oases. However, the number of species varied significantly between sites. Fruit species diversity and homogeneity of distribution of individual fruit species was highest at Balad Seet and lowest at Maqta as indicated by respective Shannon indices of 1.00 and 0.39 and evenness values of 32% and 16%. Century plant (Agave americana L.), faba bean (Vicia faba L. var. minor Peterm. em. Harz) and lentil (Lens culinaris Medik.) were identified as relict crops, supporting oral reports of past cultivation and providing evidence of genetic erosion. Some species, such as the temperate fruits of Al Jabal al Akhdar, were exclusively found at the coolest site, while others only occurred at the hotter locations. Overall greatest species similarity was found between Balad Seet and Al Jabal al Akhdar as indicated by a Sørensen coefficient of similarity of 67%. At all oases a multilayered vegetation structure dominated with a canopy, an understory and a ground layer. Greatest species richness was recorded in the lowest stratum. Overall the study shows a location-specific but surprisingly diverse mosaic of crops in Omani mountain oases which merits further studies and conservation efforts.

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Acknowledgments

The help of the botanist Dr. Annette Patzelt, Department of Biology, College of Science at the Sultan Qaboos University for species identification is highly appreciated. The authors are also indebted to Sultan Qaboos University in Muscat (Dr. Sulaiman Al Khanjari) and the Agricultural Service at Sayq Qataynah for the cooperation and to the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) for funding (Bu 1308/2-4). We thankfully acknowledge the patience and hospitality of the oasis farmers at Balad Seet, Maqta and Al Jabal al Akhdar.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Organic Agriculture and Agroecosystems Research in the Tropics and Subtropics, Institute of Crop Science, University of Kassel, Steinstr. 19, Witzenhausen, 37213, Germany

    Jens Gebauer, Eike Luedeling, Maher Nagieb & Andreas Buerkert

  2. Department of Agrobiodiversity, Institute of Crop Science, University of Kassel, Steinstr. 19, Witzenhausen, 37213, Germany

    Karl Hammer

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  1. Jens Gebauer
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  2. Eike Luedeling
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  3. Karl Hammer
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  4. Maher Nagieb
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  5. Andreas Buerkert
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Correspondence to Jens Gebauer.

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Dedicated to the memory of Richard N. Lester (1937–2006), keen researcher of plant genetic resources.

 

 

 

Appendix Cultivated plants in three mountain oases in northern Oman. Nomenclature of plant species follows mainly Hanelt and Institute of Plant Genetics and Crop Plant Research (2001)
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Gebauer, J., Luedeling, E., Hammer, K. et al. Mountain oases in northern Oman: An environment for evolution and in situ conservation of plant genetic resources. Genet Resour Crop Evol 54, 465–481 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10722-006-9205-2

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