Original scientific paper
https://doi.org/10.31298/sl.145.7-8.4
Population variability of scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) in Turkey according to the needle morphology
Arzu Ergül Bozkurt
; Artvin Çoruh University, Faculty of Forestry, Artvin, Turkey
Kamil Coşkunçelebi
; Karadeniz Technical University, Faculty of Sciences, Trabzon, Turkey
Salih Terziog˘lu
; Karadeniz Technical University, Faculty of Forestry, Trabzon, Turkey
Abstract
In the present study, needle variation of Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L., Pinaceae) populations in Turkey was investigated. From selected eight populations, a total of 1314 needles belonging to 206 trees were examined. Four morphological needle traits were measured and analyzed to describe the population diversity and differentiation. Analyzed morphological traits showed significant variability. The trees within populations differ significantly in all analyzed needle characteristics, while the differences between populations were significant for the three of four studied characteristics. Present findings revealed that needle length, needle width and the ratio of needle length to needle width showed clinal variation in response to altitudinal gradients. Populations from higher altitudes were characterized with the smaller and wider needles as compared to the populations from lower altitudes. The results of this study could be valuable baseline data for the development of more efficient management plans for this forest tree species.
Keywords
Scots pine; population variability; needle characteristics; morphometric analysis; clinal variation
Hrčak ID:
261770
URI
Publication date:
31.8.2021.
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