Department of Horticultural Sciences, Faculty of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Arak University, Arak, 38156-8-8349, Iran.
Sci Rep. 2023 Sep 22;13(1):15864. doi: 10.1038/s41598-023-43146-2.
Prunus scoparia (Spach) C. K. Schneid is among the most prevalent species which has the potential of being used as a dwarf rootstock for the cultivated almond. In the present study, the phenotypic variation of 521 wild accessions of this species naturally grown in 29 areas of 11 provinces in Iran was assessed. The accessions investigated showed significant differences based on the measured traits. The majority of the characters measured (90 out of 100) exhibited a coefficient of variation of higher than 20.00%, indicating considerable variation among the accessions. The range of nut-related characters was as follows: nut length: 9.72-22.87 mm, nut width: 5.81-15.54 mm, nut thickness: 5.67-12 mm, and nut weight: 0.18-0.99 mm. The range of kernel-related characters was as follows: kernel length: 6.83-19.23 mm, kernel width: 4.28-10.32 mm, kernel thickness: 2.16-7.52 mm, and kernel weight: 0.03-0.37 g. Kernel weight exhibited positive and significant correlations with nut length (r = 0.57), nut width (r = 0.54), nut thickness (r = 0.42), nut weight (r = 0.69), kernel length (r = 0.75), kernel width (r = 0.78), and kernel thickness (r = 0.58). Cluster analysis based on Ward's method showed two different major clusters among all the accessions. Based on the bi-plot created using principal component analysis of population analysis, the studied 29 natural habitats formed four groups. The studied accessions showed considerable variation in terms of the measured traits within and among populations. This variation is due to cross-pollination, cross-incompatibility, natural hybridization, propagation by seeds, gene flow, and exchange of plant material between the study areas. By using crosses between accessions of different regions, it is possible to increase the amount of variability in different traits of wild almonds.
欧李（Prunus scoparia (Spach) C. K. Schneid）是最普遍的物种之一，具有作为栽培杏仁矮化砧木的潜力。本研究评估了自然生长在伊朗 11 个省 29 个地区的 521 个该物种野生居群的表型变异。研究的居群根据测量的特征表现出显著差异。测量的大多数特征（100 个中的 90 个）表现出高于 20.00%的变异系数，表明居群之间存在相当大的变异。坚果相关特征的范围如下：坚果长度：9.72-22.87 毫米，坚果宽度：5.81-15.54 毫米，坚果厚度：5.67-12 毫米，坚果重量：0.18-0.99 毫米。核仁相关特征的范围如下：核仁长度：6.83-19.23 毫米，核仁宽度：4.28-10.32 毫米，核仁厚度：2.16-7.52 毫米，核仁重量：0.03-0.37 克。核仁重量与坚果长度（r=0.57）、坚果宽度（r=0.54）、坚果厚度（r=0.42）、坚果重量（r=0.69）、核仁长度（r=0.75）、核仁宽度（r=0.78）和核仁厚度（r=0.58）呈正显著相关。基于 Ward 方法的聚类分析显示，所有居群分为两个不同的主要聚类。基于居群分析的主成分分析创建的双标图，研究的 29 个自然生境形成了四个组。研究的居群在测量的特征方面表现出相当大的种群内和种群间的变异。这种变异是由于异花授粉、交叉不亲和、天然杂交、种子繁殖、基因流和研究区域之间的植物材料交换引起的。通过在不同地区的居群之间进行杂交，可以增加野生杏仁不同性状的变异量。
