Molecular Assessment of Abiotic Stress Tolerance in Selected Inula Species Using PCR-Based Markers

Abiotic stresses such as drought, salinity, and cold are major limiting factors for plant growth and productivity, particularly under the increasing pressures of climate change. This study investigates the molecular basis of stress tolerance in three Inula species—Inula helenium, Inula grandis, and Inula glauca—collected from diverse ecological zones in Uzbekistan. Genomic DNA was extracted using both CTAB and commercial kit-based methods, with the latter yielding higher quality and concentration. Sixteen stress-responsive gene markers associated with drought (e.g., NCED1, POD1), salinity (e.g., NHX2, PP2C8), and cold (e.g., CSP3) were amplified by PCR to evaluate gene presence and expression intensity. I. helenium showed the broadest tolerance, with amplification of 14 out of 16 markers, indicating strong generalist adaptability. I. grandis displayed high drought and salinity responses but lacked cold tolerance, while I. glauca exhibited moderate expression with an emphasis on cold response. These expression patterns align with the ecological distributions of the species and underscore genotype–environment interactions. The identified markers provide valuable tools for future conservation and marker-assisted breeding, with I. helenium emerging as a promising donor of multi-stress tolerance traits for crop improvement under environmental stress conditions.

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