CONGRUENCE BETWEEN GENETIC, MORPHOMETRIC, AND PHYSIOLOGICAL DATA ON DIFFERENTIATION OF TURKISH CHESTNUT (CASTANEA-SATIVA)

Patterns of variability of genetic, morphometric, and physiological traits in Turkish chestnut (Castanea sativa Mill.) are investigated. Previous studies suggested a marked genetic differentiation of Turkish demes, arranged in an east-west cline. Genetic distances based on 21 isozyme loci, discriminant analysis of 13 fruit traits, and analysis of variance of carbon isotope discrimination were carried out. The results agree with genetic divergence reported earlier, and reveal remarkably consistent variation patterns for the three types of biological traits. Historical and anthropogenic effects are discussed as causes of chestnut evolution after the Wurm glaciation and of chestnut dispersal in historical times. Particular attention is focused on probable selective forces that molded the phenotypic variation of C. sativa and lead to the observed similarity of patterns of genetic and morphophysiological levels of variation.