Variability in needle traits of Pinus mugo turra in the Ukrainian Carpathians

Abstract

Two-year-old needles were collected from 131 trees in 4 localities in the Eastern Carpathians in Ukraine. The needles were analysed in respect to 15 morphological and anatomical traits. The most stable appear to be needle width and thickness, and the ratio of needle thickness to width, while the distance between vascular bundles, Marcet's coefficient and number of resin canals were the most variable. Some of the analysed populations differ significantly from each other in the thickness of epidermal cells, number of resin canals and numbers of stomata on adaxial and abaxial surfaces of the needle.