engleski

Population variability of European white poplar (Populus alba L.) in Croatia according to the leaf morphology

Morphological variation was studied in a pioneer tree species, Populus alba L., across the Croatian continental and Mediterranean bio-geographical regions. The material for morphometric analysis was collected in 12 natural populations of European white poplar. Population variability was estimated according to 9 morphological traits of the leaves and 3 derived ratios. Descriptive and multivariate statistical methods were used to evaluate the differences among and within populations. High phenotypic variation and two distinct morphotypes were found: small-leaf in the Mediterranean region, and large-leaf in the continental region. A bio-geographical structuring of populations with a high level of among-tree variation within the populations was identified. Multivariate phenotypic analysis confirmed the existence of small- and large-leaf ecotypes. Furthermore, it was found that phenotypic divergence of the studied European white poplar populations can be explained as a result of a significant level of isolation both by distance and by environment.

bio-geographical regions ; intra- and inter-population variability ; isolation by distance and by environment ; morphometric analysis ; small- and large-leaf ecotypes

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