engleski

Intrapopulational and interpopulational relations of Betula pendula Roth (Betulaceae) in Croatia, based on leaf morphometry

Seven morphometric variables of silver birch (Betula pendula Roth) leaves from 5 bioclimatic regions of Croatia were analyzed to establish the pattern of intrapopulational and interpopulational relations. As introgression in Croatia could be almost entirely excluded, this research may represent a model of a consistent B. pendula species. Leaf samples were taken from fertile and sterile shoots separately, and the analyses yielded statistically significant differences between them. There was significant variability of all variables within and between populations. The most prominent variables in evaluation of interpopulational variability of the leaves from both fertile and sterile shoots of B. pendula were the distance from the leaf base to the widest point of the lamina (at P = 0.01) and the angle of the leaf base (at P = 0.001). These variables could be used in future research on genetic diversity among populations of B. pendula.

Betula pendula; morphometry; leaf morphology; multivariate analysis; fertile and sterile shoots; Croatia

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