Morphological Seedling Characteristics in Mediterranean and Pyramidal Cypresses

Abstract

Averages of seedling height and root-collar diameter were 84 cm and 8.7 mm in Mediterranean cypress (Cupressus sempervirens L. var. horizontalis), while they were 78.9 cm and 8.2 mm in Pyramidal cypress (Cupressus sempervirens L. var. piramidalis) in this study carried out to contribute morphology and quality on 1+0 bare root seedlings of the species. Mediterranean cypress showed higher growth performances than Pyramidal cypress for the both characteristics. Significant differences (p≤0.05) were found between taxa for height and diameter based on results of variance analysis. Results of correlation analysis showed positive and significant (p≤0.05) relations (r=0.299, r=0.255 and r=0.308) between seedling height and root-collar diameter in both taxa. All of the seedlings of both taxa were in quality level according to classes of Turkish Standard Institute for both seedling height and root-collar diameter. Highest unsuitable rates of seedlings were 36.7% and 26.7% for combination of height and diameter in Mediterranean cypress according to obtained new seedling quality classes in the study. Suitability of the new quality classes were between 82% and 98% for the characteristics in the taxa based on results of Discriminant analysis. Seedlings had the highest unsuitable rate (42.7% and 52.7%) in combination of height and diameter of new seedling quality classes in Pyramidal cypress. The successful rate of new quality classes ranged from 80.0% to 96.7% according to results of Discriminant analysis.

Keywords

• cupresus sempervirens
• seedling
• root-collar diameter
• morphology