Variation in needle anatomy of scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) populations according to habitat and altitudinal zones in turkiye

Zagreb

2023

215–225

Sonderdruck

40004151

In this study, eight Scots pine populations from Turkiye were studied to explore the influence of different habitats
and altitudinal zones on the needle anatomical traits. A total of 496 needles belonging to 64 individuals were examined using light microscopy with the aim to score variability of sixteen needle anatomical traits. Variance analysis showed significant differences in needle thickness, needle width, resin canal number, resin canal diameter, central cylinder width, central cylinder thickness, endodermis cell number, endodermis width and endodermis thickness of eight populations depending on habitat zones. However, only resin canal diameter, endodermis width
and endodermis thickness differ significantly in examined populations depending on altitudinal gradients. Cluster
analysis showed the greatest similarities between the Bolu-Aladağ and Ardahan-Yalnızçam populations, and
the most distinguishable population was the Giresun-Espiye population based on the anatomical characteristics
of the needles. Although principal component analysis showed that needle width, central cylinder width, needle
thickness, and central cylinder thickness had the greatest influence on the delimitation of Scots pine populations
distributed in Turkiye, discrimination analysis did not separate the examined populations depending on the anatomical
characteristics of the needles.
Keywords: Anatolia, altitude, needle anatomy, Pinus sylvestris, variation