1. Introduction
Naturally growing medicinal plants also have a limited supply of raw materials, and their protection, study of their bioecological properties, proper use of raw materials, and development of scientifically based methods of reproduction are considered urgent problems. A number of decisions and decrees were adopted by the government in order to rationally use the natural resources of medicinal plants in the flora of Uzbekistan, to organize their plantations, to process raw materials, and to increase exports.
In the Republic of Uzbekistan, for the last few years, a number of specific, goal-oriented research projects have been conducted to determine the distribution areas of medicinal plants and their natural reserves. It is possible to contribute to the production of promising medicinal preparations in local conditions if the natural reserves of F. tadshikorum species, which have medicinal properties, are used effectively and rationally. Cultivation, using the opportunities to create plantations, causes the preservation of the natural resources of the plant. This necessitates the need to determine the areas where F. tadshikorum is spread, to evaluate the plant stock in them, and to make recommendations for its production in the pharmaceutical industry on this basis.
It is known that this species grows in the ecological spaces of the hilly and lower mountain regions of South-western Hisar, Panjoldi, Hisar-Darvaz districts at heights of 700 - 1800 meters above sea level with oleaginous, red sandy soil, and gray soft gray soil.
In the information provided in Flora Uzbekistan (2023), 47 species of the genus are listed in the flora of Uzbekistan [1], nine of which are included in the Red Book of the Republic of Uzbekistan [2]. Species of the genus distributed in the Surkhandarya region are used by the people for various purposes. For example, from the roots of F. foetida (Bunge) Regel, F. sumbul (Kauffm.) Hook. stem and root, F. tenuisecta Korovin leaf, F. tadshikorum Pimenov root, and F. foetidissima Regel & Schmalh, from the root, F. kuhistanica Korovin is collected to extract sap and other substances.
At the same time, it is used by the population in other spheres of life (medicine, food) [3]. 17 species of the Ferula L. group are distributed in the flora of this region, of which F. tadshikorum, F. tuberifera, F. sumbul, and F. fedtschenkoana species are included in the Red Book of the Republic of Uzbekistan [2]. Species of this genus Ferula are known to contain essential oils or resinous substances, coumarins, flavonoids, terpenoids, glycosides, and lactones. Most of these compounds are biologically active and can be used as medicines and food supplements.
2. Research Methods
The article contains information on the distribution of the species Ferula tadshikorum Pimenov, local flora, records of conducted floristic and geobotanical studies, scientific literature and dissertations, international sites (https://www.plantarium.ru, https://plant.depo.msu.ru), and the herbarium was analyzed based on the materials stored in TASH, MW, LE, AA, TAJ, FRU, MSB, P, VILR funds. Distribution of Uzbekistan in botanical-geographical regions was carried out according to the scheme developed by Tojibaev, et al. [4] Information about the species is provided based on the sources cited by Pimenov M.G. [5] and Rakhmonov X.S [6].
3. Results
Ferula tadshikorum was included in science by the species Ferula tadshikorum Pimenov, first published in Bull. Main. Bot. Sada 94: 54 (1974) [5].
Information about this species can be found in Systematics, carpology, ecology and distribution of some species reflected in the work of Safina et al [5] [7].
Ferula tadshikorum Pimenov. It belongs to the genus Narthex (Falcon.) Drude of the genus Ferula [4]. This plant was included in science as a species in 1974 by Pimenov [5] [7] on the basis of samples collected from the southern part of Tajikistan (Central Asia, southern Tajikistan, Sarsaryak village, Vakhsh river valley, Shar-Shar pass, in a maple tree from Acer regelii Pax. 1200 m above sea level. 5.06.1971, No.507, Pimenov M.G.) in 1971 [5]. From a systematic point of view, the species Ferula foetidissima Regel & Schmalh. is close to the species and differs by the size of the fruit, the width of the wings in the seed, and the size of the conducting channels [7].
Baisun botanical-geographic region. 524 genera and 1564 species belonging to 89 families were found in the flora of the region [8]. There are 13 species of Ferula L. in the flora of the region: F. clematidifolia Koso-Pol., F. foetidissima Regel et Schmalh., F. gigantea B. Fedtsch., F. kelifi Korovin, F. kokanica Regel and Schmalh., F. kuhistanica Korovin, F. mollis Korovin, F. moschata (H. Reinsch) Koso-Pol., F. ovina (Boiss.) Boiss., F. samarkandica Korovin, F. tadshikorum Pimenov, and F. tuberifera Korovin are listed [8].
Kugitang botanical-geographic region. Until now, there are no exact numbers about the flora of this region; there are only numbers about the flora of the Surkhan State Reserve within the region (77 families, 372 genera, 747 species), which do not provide information about the general flora of the region because the region occupies a much larger area. It is possible that more than 10 species of the Ferula L. group can be found in the flora of the botanical-geographic region, because in the Surkhan state reserve, 7 species of Ferula gigantea B. Fedtsch., F. kuhistanica Korovin, F. nevskii Korovin, F. ovina (Boiss.) Boiss., F. schtschurowskiana Regel, Schmalh., F. tadshikorum Pimenov, and F. tuberifera Korovin are found [9].
Pri Pandj district. This district includes only the Bobotog botanical-geographic region [4]. Among the specimens stored in herbarium funds, the number of specimens collected from the Bobotog region is the majority compared to other regions. In addition, Locus classicus has more species belonging to this region compared to other regions. Until now, no specific floristic studies have been carried out in this area; in recent years, research work on the flora of the area has been carried out [10]. In the region, about 10 species of Ferula L. genus F. tadshikorum Pimenov., F. clematidifolia Koso-Pol., F. gigantea B.Fedtsch., F. kuhistanica Korovin., F. bucharica (Lipsky) Koso-Pol., F. foetidissima Regel & Schmalh., F. kelifi Korovin., F. kokanica Regel & Schmalh occur because there are different ecotopes in the area. The main part of the region is covered by oleaginous red sand slopes [11].
The grid system map of the natural flora of Uzbekistan was created on the basis of the WGS 1984 (World Geodetic System 1984) projection in ArcGIS version 10.6.1. The administrative map of the Republic of Uzbekistan and the botanical-geographical zoning scheme of the flora of Uzbekistan were taken into account when drawing up the map. The developed map consists of 19,240 squares, each with an area of 5 × 5 km2, and each square is named with indices including the English alphabet and numbers. 882 of these cells correspond to South-West Hisar, Hisar-Darvaz, and Panjoldi districts (part of the Surkhandarya region) (Figure 1).
Figure 1. Location of F. tadshikorum in the flora of the Surkhandarya region on a grid system map.
Among the botanical-geographic districts, according to the number of indices, South-West Hisar district (646) is the leader, followed by Hisar-Darwaz (186) and Panj (178) districts (Figure 2).
In addition, the territory of the Surkhandarya region is divided into five botanical geographic regions (BGR). These are the following: Surkhan-Sherabod 312, Boysun 194, Sangardak-Topalang 191, Bobotog 181, Kuhitang 132 BGR 5 × 5 km2 indices, but adding up the indices of each BGR makes a total of 1010 indices, but there are crossings in 5 × 5 km2 indices in the BGR range, the total number of crossings is 128 indices. [12] [13]. A number of studies are being carried out on the study of plants distributed naturally in our republic [14]-[19]. It was also about the medicinal plant that a lot of research was carried out [20] [21].
Figure 2. Geographic location of Surkhandaryo province and its phytogeographic subdivision.
Grid-system mapping makes it possible to consolidate scattered data sets into one system, visualize them using modern technologies, software packages (representation on maps, preparation of infographics), fast and high-quality data exchange, and most importantly, the universalization of floristic research. Based on this, the data collected within the framework of the state program of grid system mapping of the flora of South-Western Hisar, Hisar-Darvaz, and Panjoldi districts (part of the Surkhandarya region) is being carried out in digital format. This process makes it possible to get individual information on the section of indexes while transferring the use of the database formed on the basis of the selected parameters to a convenient form.
The data were linked to the indices by geographic coordinates to reflect the results of the research on grid system maps and to provide an individual approach to each of the indices. The distribution of F. tadshikorum in the territory of the Surkhandarya region mainly covers the Bobotog (BGR), Boysun (BGR), and Kohitang (BGR) indexes according to its botanical and geographical location (Figure 2).
At the same time, it was found that F. tadshikorum is found in 109 indices of the 5 × 5 km2 grid system map of the flora of Uzbekistan in the Surkhandarya region (Figure 2). The natural resources of F. tadshikorum in these areas were also analyzed (Table 1).
Table 1. The occurrence of F. tadshikorum in 5 × 5 km grid cells in the Surkhandarya region in 109 indices.
№ |
Page Name |
№ |
Page Name |
№ |
Page Name |
№ |
Page Name |
№ |
Page Name |
1 |
H188 |
23 |
O213 |
45 |
R215 |
67 |
U217 |
89 |
W218 |
2 |
I189 |
24 |
P188 |
46 |
S196 |
68 |
U218 |
90 |
X192 |
3 |
J186 |
25 |
P189 |
47 |
S197 |
69 |
V191 |
91 |
X194 |
4 |
K210 |
26 |
P196 |
48 |
S212 |
70 |
V193 |
92 |
X197 |
5 |
K211 |
27 |
P211 |
49 |
S213 |
71 |
V200 |
93 |
X198 |
6 |
L186 |
28 |
P212 |
50 |
S214 |
72 |
V212 |
94 |
X199 |
7 |
L210 |
29 |
P213 |
51 |
S215 |
73 |
V213 |
95 |
X214 |
8 |
L211 |
30 |
Q189 |
52 |
S216 |
74 |
V214 |
96 |
X215 |
9 |
L212 |
31 |
Q195 |
53 |
T190 |
75 |
V215 |
97 |
X216 |
10 |
M186 |
32 |
Q199 |
54 |
T197 |
76 |
V216 |
98 |
X217 |
11 |
M210 |
33 |
Q211 |
55 |
T212 |
77 |
V217 |
99 |
X218 |
12 |
M211 |
34 |
Q212 |
56 |
T213 |
78 |
V218 |
100 |
Y194 |
13 |
M212 |
35 |
Q213 |
57 |
T214 |
79 |
W192 |
101 |
Y214 |
14 |
N187 |
36 |
Q214 |
58 |
T215 |
80 |
W193 |
102 |
Y215 |
15 |
N211 |
37 |
Q215 |
59 |
T216 |
81 |
W195 |
103 |
Y216 |
16 |
N212 |
38 |
R189 |
60 |
T217 |
82 |
W196 |
104 |
Z195 |
17 |
N213 |
39 |
R190 |
61 |
U191 |
83 |
W198 |
105 |
AA196 |
18 |
O187 |
40 |
R197 |
62 |
U212 |
84 |
W213 |
106 |
AB196 |
19 |
O189 |
41 |
R199 |
63 |
U213 |
85 |
W214 |
107 |
AC197 |
20 |
O210 |
42 |
R212 |
64 |
U214 |
86 |
W215 |
108 |
AC198 |
21 |
O211 |
43 |
R213 |
65 |
U215 |
87 |
W216 |
109 |
AD198 |
22 |
O212 |
44 |
R214 |
66 |
U216 |
88 |
W217 |
|
|
4. Discussion
The scope of such preliminary data allows for a complete mapping of the composition of the flora in the territory of the Surkhandarya region. For this, of course, grid system mapping is one of the best research methods. As a result of analyzing the distribution of the species across the botanical-geographical regions of Uzbekistan, the following conclusions were drawn.
It is known that this species grows in the ecological spaces of the hilly and lower mountain regions of south-western Hisar, Panjoldi, and Hisar-Darvaz districts at heights of 700 - 1800 meters above sea level. As a result of the annual increase of external influence on the species, individuals during the flowering period were almost not visible, which is explained by the decline of the gene pool of the species. Today, by establishing industrial plantations of the species, it is possible to reduce the external impact on natural populations. In this way, the gene pool of the species is preserved, and positive results are achieved.
5. Conclusions
The problem of protecting the environment and flora is of great, vital importance for all mankind. Using natural resources, people negatively affect the natural landscapes that have been forming for centuries. The development of industry and agriculture, the widespread settlement of natural territories leads to a violation of the ecological balance, as a result of which the danger of impoverishment of the species composition of the flora and loss of the plant gene pool gradually increases.
Studying the biological characteristics of Ferula L. species in their ontogeny, organizing plantations from plants to get enough resin from them for export, and dealing with the problems of rational use of existing natural areas are considered urgent tasks. Accordingly, it is of scientific and practical importance to evaluate the modern status of Ferula tadshikorum senopopulations distributed in the Surkhandarya region based on critical views and clarify the information on their status in the Red Book of the Republic of Uzbekistan (2019). The conducted research and the available resources require a critical approach and new research to determine the taxonomic diversity, biogeography, ecology, and scientific issues of conservation of the F. tadshikorum species in the Surkhondarya basin, which is represented by a high percentage of endemic species. From this point of view, it is of great scientific and practical importance to determine the taxonomic structure through the in-depth analysis of available data and targeted field research to study the scientific basis of species protection and geographical distribution.
Acknowledgements
The article was prepared within the framework of the state project on the topic of Grid mapping of the flora of mountainous regions of southern Uzbekistan funded by the government of the Republic of Uzbekistan.