PJB-2022-153
Analysis of the morphological, phenological and biometrical diversity in several Algerian populations of Trifolium subterraneum L. (Fabaceae)
Zahira Bouziane, Rachida Issolah, Zineb Fedjer and Ali Tahar
Abstract
As part of the evaluation and the valorization of plant genetic resources of fodder and pastoral interest in Algeria, twenty-six (26) natural populations of subterranean clover (Trifolium subterraneum L.), originating from different ecological habitats, were the subject of a morphological, phenological and biometrical study. In total, fifty (50) characteristics were considered (33 quantitative related to vegetative development, flowering, pods and 17 qualitative related to leaves, flowers and seeds). Two ecological factors (altitude and rainfall), concerning the natural habitats of the populations, were also considered. The analysis of variance highlighted the existence of significant intraspecific and inter-population variation for several traits. The Biometrical and phenological characteristics were more discriminating than qualitative ones (markers). Several significant correlations were observed between the markers and certain traits related to the reproduction and yield. Compared to the rainfall, the effect of the altitude was relatively more pronounced on the variation of certain quantitative and qualitative characteristics (seeds weight/fruiting heads weight ratio, flush intensity, crescent breadth and stem hairiness). The results of the PCA indicate a wide morpho-phenological and biometrical variation, particularly between the populations coming from the region of Guelma. The precocity, the vegetative development, the flower production and the fruiting heads weight permitted to classify the populations into three distinct groups. This study highlighted the importance of certain quantitative and qualitative characteristics in the infraspecific classification of the species T. subterraneum in Algeria and suggests that the populations collected in the Northeast of the country would correspond to the ssp. subterraneum. The diversified performances described in the Algerian populations of T. subterraneum require their preservation and valorization
To Cite this article:
Bouziane, Z., R. Issolah, Z. Fedjer and A. Tahar. 2023. Analysis of the morphological, phenological and biometrical diversity in several Algerian populations of Trifolium subterraneum L. (Fabaceae). Pak. J. Bot., 55(6): DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.30848/PJB2023-6(12)
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