Original scientific paper

https://doi.org/10.1515/botcro-2015-0008

Morphometric variation and taxonomic identification of thirteen wild rose populations from Tunisia

Zohra Ben Cheikh-Affene orcid.org/0000-0003-4402-2052 ; Department of Horticultural Science and Landscape, Higher Agronomic Institute, University of Sousse, 4042 Chott-Mariem, Sousse, Tunisia
Faouzi Haouala ; Department of Agronomy and Plant Biotechnology, National Institute of Agronomy of Tunisia, University of Carthage , 43 avenue Charles Nicolle, 1082 Tunis Mahrajène, Tunisia
Fethia Harzallah-Skhiri ; Laboratory of Genetic, Biodiversity and Valorisation of Bioresources (LR11SE14), Higher Institute of Biotechnology of Monastir, University of Monastir, Rue Tahar Haddad, Monastir 5000, Tunisia

Abstract

Thirteen populations of wild roses (Rosa L.) growing in northern and central Tunisia have been used for studies on the discrimination between accessions and populations. Thirty-eight morphological characters related to the branches, prickles, leaves and corymbs were measured on the collected accessions to study the phenotypic diversity among and within species. Principal component and hierarchical cluster analyses (PCA and HCA) separated rose accessions into two distinctive groups and eight subgroups. A taxonomic interpretation of the morphological variability has shown that Tunisian rose populations belong to two sections (Synstylae and Caninae) of the genus Rosa. Moreover, they have been identified as seven separated taxa: R. sempervirens L., R. sempervirens var. submoshata Rouy., R. sempervirens var. prostrata Lindl. belonging to Synstylae section and R. canina L., R. agrestis Savi., R. micrantha Smith. and R. dumetorum Thuill. belonging to Caninae section. PCA and HCA proved that morphological characters used in taxonomic identification such as styles form, leaf and leaflets length, number of flowers by corymb, leaflet serration, presence of glands in leaflet, peduncle, receptacle and sepal have a high value of discrimination, and have been very successful in morphological identification.

Keywords

Caninae section; morphometry; Synstylae section; taxonomic differentiation; wild roses

Hrčak ID:

137841

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/137841

Publication date:

1.4.2015.

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