Variation in morphometric traits of fruits of Mespilus germanica L

According to the International Program for the Botanic Gardens Conservation, botanic gardens contribute to the conservation plant species, which are of great socio-economic importance, and develop and implement a policy to use herbal products derived from sustainably developing sources. The aim of this study was to determine morphometric parameters of fruits of seven genotypes of Mespilus germanica L., which are growing in the Forest-Steppe of Ukraine in M. M. Gryshko National Botanical Garden of NAS of Ukraine (Kyiv). Their morphometric parameters were following: fruit weight from 35.29 to 39.12 g, fruit length from 27.69 to 42.29 mm, fruit diameter from 24.98 to 44.75 mm, length of calyx basin from 17.55 to 32.46 mm. The shape index of the fruits was found in the range of 0.79 to 1.23. It was found that fruit diameter positively correlated with traits such as fruit weight and calyx basin length. Fruit weight was also highly correlated with calyx basin length and fruit length. Using the cluster analysis with Euclidian distances allowed to establish the relationships among the fruits Mespilus germanica germplasm and arranged the genotypes into five relatively homogenous clusters. Hence, the introduction population characterized by quite variability and contains plants with almost all types of fruits. Obtained data can be used for breeding programs and introducing of cultivars in Mespilus germanica.

Variation of fruits morphometric parameters of Elaeagnus multiflora thunb. germplasm collection

The aim of this study was to determine morphometric parameters of fruits within some genotypes of Elaeagnus multiflora Thunb., which are growing in the Forest-Steppe of Ukraine in M.M. Gryshko National Botanical Garden of NAS of Ukraine (NBG). Their morphometric parameters were following: fruit weight from 0.32 to 1.89 g, fruit length from 7.60 to 19.54 mm, fruit diameter from 4.39 to 10.32 mm, seed weight from 0.10 to 0.41 g, seed length from 7.40 to 13.30 mm, seed diameter from 1.34 to 5.07 mm. The shape indexes of fruits and seeds were found ranging from 1.25 to 1.56 and from 2.90 to 4.04, respectively. The analysis of coefficient of variation showed the difference of variability in morphometric characteristics between Elaeagnus multiflora samples. Data showed that the most variability of important selection characteristics is the average cumulative seeds weight - from 18.72 to 36.61%, seeds diameter - from 10.46 to 24.29%, fruits weight - from 9.15 to 22.24%. The other characteristics are more or less stable. Collected quantitative data were subjected to principal hierarchical cluster analysis. The cluster analysis of morphometric parameters exhibited that the Elaeagnus multiflora genotypes fell into two clusters. These cluster analysis results suggest that broad morphologic diversity was found in Elaeagnus multiflora genotypes examined in this study. The introduction population of the Elaeagnus multiflora, was created in the M.M. Gryshko National Botanical Garden in Kyiv, has a sufficient potential for successful selection work. These preliminary results could open the interest of farmers in this Elaeagnus multiflora and will be precedent for future domestication and introduction of the species in the agroproductive system in Ukraine and the rest of the world.