Variability of morphological and biological characteristics of Wild Service Tree (Sorbus torminalis (L.) Crantz) fruits and seeds from different altitudes

摘要

Aims and objectives of research: The study aimed to research the influence of altitude on dimensions, i.e. the shape of Wild Service tree fruits (Sorbus torminalis (L.) Crantz). We also wanted to test the variability of major biological characteristics of fruits and seed, the elements of seed quality and their relations.Materials and Methods: In September 2003 we gathered fruits from 24 Wild Service Trees of different ages and positions in the stand structure on three sites (Medvednica, Psunj and Južni Dilj) situated at different altitudes. The altitude of each tree was determined with the GPSmap 60CSxdevice, after which dendrometric measurements were carried out and fruits were collected.We measured fruit length (FL) and width (FW) and calculated their index (FL/FW). The mass of each fruit was weighed on the laboratory scales Sartorius and the number of fruits per kilo was calculated. The seeds were manually extracted from the fruits and the number of filled (sound) seeds per fruit was counted in line with the ISTA rules. In order to break the double seed dormancy we applied the stratification in accordancewith the ISTA rules. For the statistical analysis of the data we used ANOVA, LSD test, correlation analysis and canonical discriminant multivariate analysis with the locality as a grouping variable. All statistical analyses were performed using STATISTICA 8.0 program package.Results: We obtained a positive and strong correlation between fruitlength and altitude (R=0.67), i.e. between fruit shape index and altitude (R=0.71), which means that the higher the altitude of the population of the Wild Service Tree in the Republic of Croatia, the longer the fruits. At higher altitudes the Wild Service Tree seed shows a larger degree of dormancy and requires somewhat longer period of stratification.Conclusion: The observed differences between the three studied locations might be attributed to changed climatic and soil conditions.