Morphological variations of chaste tree (Vitex agnus-castus) genotypes from southern Anatolia Turkey

Abstract

in this study, the extent and distribution of visual and morphological characteristics and diversity based on seven origin sites for 37 chaste tree (Vitex agnus-castus) genotypes selected from the east coast of Antalya Province (southern Anatolia, Turkey) were determined. Plant size, growth habit, and flower colour were used as visual characteristics. Morphological characteristics included primary and secondary panicle lengths and flower numbers, petiole length, mid-leaflet length and width, and flowering branch diameter. Genotypes differed significantly in both overall and within origin sites in terms of frequency for visual characteristics. Similar large diversities were recorded between and within origin sites for morphological characteristics. Pearson's coefficients revealed that there were several significant and positive correlations between morphological characteristics of V. agnus-castus genotypes. Cluster and principal component analyses based on means of genotypes for morphological characteristics confirmed large variations between V. agnus-castus genotypes. © The Royal Society of New Zealand 2009.