Turkish Journal of Forestry (Sep 2019)

Variations in cone and seed traits of Crimean juniper (Juniperus excelsa Bieb.) populations

  • Süleyman GÜLCÜ,
  • Süleyman DEMİR,
  • Samet DİRLİK

DOI
https://doi.org/10.18182/tjf.561242
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 20, no. 3
pp. 187 – 194

Abstract

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In this study, the aim is to determine the differences between populations of Crimean juniper (Juniperus excelsa Bieb.) in terms of some cones and seed characteristics. In this study, cones from 30 different populations in Isparta, Burdur and Antalya provinces of natural distribution areas of the species were collected. Width and weight of the cones and the number of seeds from these cones, width and height of the seeds, one thousand seed weight and sound seed rate were measured. The data were evaluated in SPSS package program. In this respect, variance analysis and Duncan test were performed in an attempt to compare populations in terms of seed and cone characteristics. In addition, ‘t’ test was performed to compare the populations, in terms of seed width and seed length, by dividing into two groups according to their altitudes and views: low and high altitudes and shaded and sunlit views. According to the results of the analysis, statistically significant differences were observed between the populations of both cone width and the number of seeds and seed width and length. While average seed width was 2.52 mm at the sunlit views, it was 2,41 mm at shaded views. The average seed length was 4.54 mm at sunlit views while it was 4.40 mm at the shaded views. While the average seed length was 4.42 mm and the average seed width was 2.46 mm in populations in high altitudes over 1300 meters, the average seed width was 2.48 mm and the average seed length was 4.54 mm in populations lower than 1300 meters. Seed width and height were found to be higher both at the sunlit views and in the populations below 1300 meters. Based on these results, it would be appropriate to determine the areas of conifer and seed harvest determining the differences in terms of seed characteristics, germination ability, morphological and physiological seedling characteristics of Juniperus excelsa within and between populations.

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