Analysis of morphological variability in eight spontaneous populations of Pistacia atlantica in Algeria
Résumé
To study the morphological variability within and among Pistacia atlantica Desf. populations, a comparative analysis was undertaken in eight wild populations grown under different climatic conditions in Algeria. This study addresses the morpho-biometrical aspect of the leaves and the fruits, as well as the micromorphological aspect of leaves. ANOVA as well as mean comparison of the morphological traits revealed a significant diversity within and among the populations. Furthermore, in the multivariate analysis, the populations were separated into four different groups through the discriminating variables: leaf and leaflet dimensions, number of pairs of leaflets, leaf wings, leaf smell and colour, terminal leaflet size and apex, and finally fruit colour and shape. These results showed the originality of the Algerian populations as compared with those commonly described for this species in the literature, in particular by the occurrence of wax on the leaves. The morphological variability exhibited by the Algerian populations of P. of P.atlantica may be interpreted as relevant to the ecological plasticity and the physiological mechanisms discussed in this article.