Phenotypic and Genetic Differences among Populations of European Chestnut (Castanea sativa Mill.) in Slovakia

摘要

Following historical data, localities Bratislava, Jelenec, Modry Kamen have been considered the three main centers of chestnut distribution in Slovakia. To assess phenotypic and genetic differences among chestnut populations on these localities, randomly selected trees from these populations were subjected to morphometric analysis of 12 fruit traits and analysis of 12 isoensyme systems in winter buds. In addition 71 trees from the progenies, derived from the parental trees of studied populations, were selected to carry out morphometric analysis of fruits. Discriminant analysis of twelve fruit traits showed that separation of three tree sets from localities (populations) was more distinct than separation of the tree sets from groups of progenies. While the tree set from Modry Kamen (MK) population was only slightly separated in ordination diagram of first two canonical axes the distinct separation of the parental MK population from the other two parental populations was proved by isoenzyme analysis. The MK population deviates by the extent of variation exhibiting a higher level of heterozygozity but lower gene diversity than remaining populations. The surveyed populations are genetically extremely differentiated what suggests they may represent progenies of few mother trees.