Identification of Poplar clones, using morphological markers

Document Type : Research article

Authors

Members of Scientific board, Research Institute of Forests Rangelands.‎

Abstract

Identification of Poplar clones is necessary, Particularly at early stage of growth, to demonstrate their similarity and diversity in selection process. Identification and selection of poplar clones was carried out using morphological attributes after a process period of 10-15 years. Although this approach, renders some information about the clones growth characteristics, but requires relatively high costs for time and site. In this study 12 clones belonged to four species were planted under randomized complete blocks statistical design with three replicates and their data were recorded during the years 1999-2001.
Twenty distinctive morphological attributes of the poplar clones leaves, branches and roots which according to the new methods can be applied to identify clones and species at early growth stages, were measured at different times. The data were analyzed using various univariate and multivariate statistical methods including analysis of variance, cluster analysis and principal component analysis.
The results shows that the morphological markers in conjunction with appropriate statistical methods are able to differentiate poplar clones. There were significant differences between the species and clones, regarding their morphological characteristics.
Although univariate analysis was not suitable for systematical classification, but multivariate analyses such as cluster and component analyses were the best for the clones and species classification. Overall, the clones of the species P. alba, P. nigra, P. euphratica and P.deltoides were classified at separate groups.
 

Keywords


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