Morphological variation of Carpinus betulus leaf and fruit in Hyrcanian and Arasbaran forests (Iran)

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

1 Associate Prof., Botany Research Division, Research Institute of Forests and Rangelands, Agricultural Research, Education and Extension Organization (AREEO), Tehran, Iran

2 Assistant Prof., Department of Biology, Islamic Azad University, Azadshahr Branch, Azadshahr, Iran

3 Assistant Prof., Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Engineering, University of Payame Noor, Tehran, Iran)

10.22092/bot.j.iran.2025.369113.1416

Abstract

Carpinus betulus L. (Betulaceae), a tree about 30 meters high that is distributed in Europe, Caucasus, Turkey, and Iran. These trees, with their wide distribution, are always undergoing changes in their appearance traits. For this purpose, the variation of leaf and fruit morphological traits in 13 populations of the C. betulus (hornbeam) located in four provinces (Golestan, Mazandaran, Guilan, and E. Azarbaijan) of Iran was investigated. In July 2005, 10 trees were selected from natural habitats, maintaining a minimum distance of 100 meters between them. Random samples of leaves, catkins, bracts, and fruits were collected from the outer parts of the crown. The evaluation of morphological traits across populations revealed significant differences in most traits, except for the number of veins, beak length and width, seed weight, and the number of seed sulcate. Principal component analysis indicated that the first component placed greater emphasis on leaf area, bract length and width, beak width, and seed width. The second component highlighted leaf width, catkin width, petiole length, and beak length as key traits, while the third component prioritized catkin length, seed weight, and the number of seed sulcate. Cluster analysis of the studied traits revealed that the trees sampled from 13 populations were grouped into five distinct clusters, based on variance changes in cluster formation. The findings indicated intraspecific variation in Carpinus species regarding morphological traits of leaves, seeds, bracts, and catkins. Additionally, traits such as the number of veins, beak length and width, seed weight, and the number of seed sulcate showed lower sensitivity to environmental influences, making them valuable distinguishing traits for identifying of the said species.

Keywords

Main Subjects


Article Title [Persian]

تنوع ریختی برگ و میوه ممرز در جنگل‌های هیرکانی و ارسباران

Authors [Persian]

  • یونس عصری 1
  • سونا آخوندنژاد 2
  • محمدحسن جعفری صیادی 3
1 دانشیار پژوهش بخش تحقیقات گیاه‌شناسی، مؤسسه تحقیقات جنگل‌ها و مراتع کشور، سازمان تحقیقات، آموزش و ترویج کشاورزی، تهران، ایران
2 استادیار گروه زیست‌شناسی، دانشگاه آزاد اسلامی، واحد آزادشهر، آزادشهر، ایران
3 استادیار گروه کشاورزی و منابع طبیعی، دانشگاه پیام نور، تهران، ایران
Abstract [Persian]

مَمرَز (Carpinus betulus) متعلق به تیره توس درختی به ارتفاع حدود 30 متر است که در اروپا، قفقاز، ترکیه و ایران انتشار دارد و با پراکنش وسیع، همواره دستخوش تغییراتی در صفات ظاهری خود بوده است. به همین منظور، تنوع صفات ریخت‌شناسی برگ و میوه در 13 جمعیت گونه مَمرَز واقع در استان‌های گلستان، مازندران، گیلان و آذربایجان‌شرقی مورد بررسی قرار گرفت. تعداد 10 پایه درخت از رویشگاه‌های طبیعی، با فواصل حداقل 100 متر از یکدیگر انتخاب شدند و نمونه‌های برگ، شاتون، برگه و میوه از خارج تاج به ‌صورت تصادفی جمع‌آوری گردید. از میان صفات ریخت‌شناسی اندازه‌گیری ‌شده بین جمعیت‌ها به‌ جز تعداد رگبرگ، طول و عرض منقارک، وزن دانه و تعداد شیار دانه، سایر صفات تفاوت معنی‌داری داشتند. تجزیه داده‌ها به روش تجزیه مؤلفه‌های اصلی نشان داد که در مؤلفه اول مساحت برگ، طول و عرض برگه، عرض منقارک و عرض دانه؛ در مؤلفه دوم عرض برگ، عرض شاتون، طول دمبرگ و طول منقارک و در مؤلفه سوم طول شاتون، وزن دانه و تعداد شیار دانه اهمیت بیشتری در مقایسه با سایر صفات داشتند. نتایج تجزیه خوشه‌ای براساس کلیه صفات مورد مطالعه نشان داد که با توجه به تغییرات واریانس تشکیل خوشه‌ها، پایه‌های نمونه‌گیری شده از 13 جمعیت به پنج گروه مجزا تفکیک شدند. براساس نتایج به دست آمده در گونه مَمرَز از نظر صفات ریخت‌شناسی برگ، دانه، براکته و شاتون تنوع درون‌گونه‌ای وجود دارد. همچنین می‌توان از صفات تعداد رگبرگ، طول و عرض منقارک، وزن دانه و تعداد شیار دانه به‌ دلیل تاثیرپذیری کمتر از عوامل محیطی به ‌عنوان صفات متمایزکننده در تفکیک گونه مذکور استفاده کرد.

Keywords [Persian]

  • پلاستیسیتی
  • ترانسکت ارتفاعی
  • تجزیه مؤلفه‌های اصلی
  • تجزیه خوشه‌ای
  • تنوع درون‌گونه‌ای
  • Betulaceae
Abdolahi, A., Ali Arab, A.R., Parhizkar, P. & Pourmalekshah, A.A.M.A. 2017. Effect of gap size and position within gaps on growth characters and survival of Chestnut-leaved oak (Quercus castaneifolia C.A.Mey.), Cappadocian maple (Acer cappadocicum Gled.) and Caucasian alder (Alnus subcordata C.A.Mey.). Iranian Journal of Forest and Poplar Research 25(2): 275–285 (In Persian). DOI: 10.22092/ ijfpr2017.111762.
Adamidis, G.C., Varsamis, G., Tsiripidis, I., Dimitrakopoulos, P.G. & Papageorgiou. A.C. 2021. Patterns of leaf morphological traits of Beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) along an altitudinal gradient. Forests 12(10): 1297. DOI: 10.3390/f12101297.
Alijanpour, A., Fatullahi, A., Eshaghi Rad, J. & Mohamed Shabanlou, A.R. 2018. Effect of aspect and soil on quantitative and qualitative characteristic of hornbeam (Carpinus betulus L.) in Arasbaran forest (case study: Ilginehchay and Kaleibarchay Watersheds). Journal of Plant Research 30(4): 887–898 (In Persian). https://plant.ijbio.ir/article_1276.html.
Assadi, M. 2023. Corylaceae. Pp. 3–12. In: Flora of Iran, No. 178 (Assadi, M., ed.). Research Institute of Forests and Rangelands Publications, Tehran (In Persian).
Atar, F., Atar, E., Güney, D. & Turna, I. 2024. Analyzing population diversity of common hornbeam (Carpinus betulus L.) in native habitats in Türkiye: A focus on leaf characteristics. Austrian Journal of Forest Science 141(3): 173–194. DOI: 10.53203/fs.2403.1.
Bice, R.S. 2020. Genetic Diversity Correlates with Morphological Diversity among Populations of Achyrachaena mollis. University Honors Theses, 871 pp. DOI: 10.15760/honors.892.
Browicz, K. 1972. Corylaceae. Pp. 91–97. In: Flora Iranica, Vol. 97 (Rechinger, K.H. ed.). Akad. Drucku. Verlagsanstalt, Graz.
Bruschi, P., Grossoni, P. & Bussotti, F. 2003. Within and among tree variation in leaf morphology of Quercus petraea (Matt.) Liebl. natural populations. Trees 17(2): 164–172.
Chapolagh Paridari, I., Jalali, S.G., Sonboli, A. & Zarafshar, M. 2012a. Seed and bract morphotypes of Carpinus betulus. Journal of Applied Biology 25(1): 17–32 (In Persian). DOI: 10.22051/jab.2014.1127.
Chapolagh Paridari, A., Jalali, S.G., Sonboli, A. & Zarafshar, M. 2012b. Leaf, stomata and trichome morphology of the species in Carpinus genus. Taxonomy and Bio systematics 4(10): 11–26 (In Persian). https://tbj.ui.ac.ir/article_17429.html.
Chapolagh Paridari, I., Jalali, S.G., Sonboli, A., Zarafshar, M. & Bruschi, P. 2013. Leaf macro- and micro-morphological altitudinal variability of Carpinus betulus in the Hyrcanian Forest (Iran). Journal of Forestry Research 24(2): 301–307. DOI: 10.1007/s11676-013-0353-x.
Chen, Z. & Li, J. 2004. Phylogenetics and biogeography of Alnus (Betulaceae) inferred from sequences of nuclear ribosomal DNA region. International Journal of Plant Sciences 165(2): 325–335. DOI: 10.1086/382795.
Chidumayo, E.N. 2006. Fitness implications of clonal integration and leaf dynamics in a stoloniferous herb, Nelsonia canescens (Lam.) Spreng. (Nelsoniaceace). Evolutionary Ecology 20(1): 59–73. DOI: 10.1007/s10682-005-3873-9.
Dahlgren, A. 1983. General aspects of angiosperm evolution and macrosystematics. Nordic Journal of Botany 3(1): 119–149. DOI: 10.1111/j.1756-1051.1983.tb01448.x.
Dietz, L., Gégout, J.-C., Dupouey, J.-L., Lacombe, E., Laurent, L. & Collet, C. 2022. Beech and hornbeam dominate oak 20 years after the creation of storm-induced gaps. Forest Ecology and Management 503: 119758. DOI: 10.1016/j.foreco.2021.119758.
Ebrahimi Gajooti, T., Ostadhashemi, R., Razban Haghighi, A. & Imani, Y. 2000. Ecological factors affecting the distribution of Carpinus betulus L. in the forests of Arasbaran. Journal of Sustainable Management of Hyrcanian Forests 2(1): 37–48 (In Persian). https://cuhfj.areeo.ac.ir/article_122240.html.
Faraji, B., Javanmiri Pour, M. & Etemad, V. 2023. The oriental beech (Fagus orientalis L.) seed production and regeneration in northern forests of Iran. Journal of Plant Research 36(3): 233–244 (In Persian). https://plant.ijbio.ir/article_2121.html.
Fenner, M. 2001. Seeds: The Ecology of Regeneration in Plant Communities. 2nd edition. Oxford University Press, 424 pp.
Fereidoonfar, H., Salehi-Arjmand, H., Khadivi, A. & Akramian, M. 2018. Morphological variability of sumac (Rhus coriaria L.) germplasm using multivariate analysis. Industrial Crops and Products 120: 162–170. DOI: 10.1016/j.indcrop.2018.04.034.
Fririon, V., Davi, H., Oddou-Muratorio, S., Lebourgeois, F. & Lefèvre, F. 2023. Within and between population phenotypic variation in growth vigor and sensitivity to drought stress in five temperate tree species. Forest Ecology
and Management 531: 120754. DOI: 10.1016/j.foreco.2022.120754.
Ghahreman, A. & Attar, F. 1999. Biodiversity of Plant Species in Iran. Tehran University Publications, Tehran.
Ghorbanli, M., Savadkoohi, F. & Satarian, A. 2014. Exploring the effect of habitat altitude on leaf morphology of Iranian horn-beam (Carpinus betulus L.) in Shast Kalateh forests in Gorgan. Journal of Plant and Ecosystem 9(37): 3–15 (In Persian). https://www.magiran.com/paper/1271587.
Hamzeh’ee, B., Safavi, S.R., Asri, Y. & Jalili, A. 2010. Floristic analysis and a preliminary vegetation description of Arasbaran Biosphere Reserve, NW Iran. Rostaniha 11(1): 1–16 (In Persian). https://rostaniha.areeo.ac.ir/article_101488.html.
Hassler, M. 1994–2025. World Plants. Synonymic Checklist and Distribution of the World Flora. Version 25.02 (updated Feb. 2025). https://www.worldplants.de.
Jasińska, A.K., Rucińska, B., Kozlowski, G., Bétrisey, S., Safarov, H., Boratyńska, K. & Boratyński, A. 2015. Morphological differentiation of leaves in the relict tree Zelkova carpinifolia (Ulmaceae). Dendrobiology 74: 109–122. DOI: 10.12657/denbio.074.011.
Jian-Xun, L., Xiao-Lu, Z. & Wan-Chun, G. 2005. Biogeography difference in cone, needle and seed morphology among natural Picea asperata populations in Western China. Forestry Studies in China 7: 1–6. DOI: 10.1007/s11632-005-0012-1.
Khanjani Shiraz, B., Hemmati, A., Pourtahmasi, K. & Sardabi, H. 2013. Growth comparison of different poplar clones, planted on lowlands of west Guilan. Iranian Journal of Forest and Poplar Research 21(3): 557–572 (In Persian). DOI: 10.22092/ijfpr.2014.4733.
Khoshandam Sarvineh Baghi, A., Payamnoor, V., Nodeh, M., Alishah, O., Aghaei, M.J. 2022. Evaluation and comparison of leaf and seed morphological characteristics of hornbeam species in two long regions of Kordkoy and Hezar Jerib (Estakhr posht) of Neka Mazandaran. Journal of Wood and Forest Science and Technology 28(4): 83–99 (In Persian). DOI: 10.22069/jwfst.2022.19127.1927.
Kianfar, M., Jalilvand, H., Asadi, H. & Naji, H.R. 2023. Morphological response of leaves of Persian oak (Quercus brantii) and wild pistachio (Pistacia atlantica) to elevation gradient in the Zagros forests, Ilam. Journal of Forest and Wood Products 76(3): 245–256 (In Persian). DOI: 10.22059/jfwp.2023.358147.1251.
Li, Y., Zhang, Y., Liao, P.C., Wang, T., Wang, X., Ueno, S. & Du, F. 2021. Genetic, geographic, and climatic factors jointly shape leaf morphology of an alpine oak, Quercus aquifolioides Rehder E.H. Wilson. Annals of Forest Science 78: 64. DOI: 10.1007/s13595-021-01077-w.
Lübbe, T., Schuldt, B. & Leuschner, C. 2017. Acclimation of leaf water status and stem hydraulics to drought and tree neighbourhood: alternative strategies among the saplings of five temperate deciduous tree species. Tree Physiology 37(4): 456–468. DOI: 10.1093/treephys/tpw095.
Marvi Mohajer, M.R. 2006. Silviculture and Forest Management. 2nd edition. Tehran University Publications, Tehran.
Moradi Dirmandrik, Sh., Ramezani Kakroudi, E., Alijanpour, A. & Banj Shafiei, A. 2015. Quantitative and qualitative characteristics of Arasbaran Forest Protected Area in slope gradient classes. Forest Research and Development 1(1): 1–15 (In Persian). https://jfrd.urmia.ac.ir/article_20051.html.
Moradi, S., Abrari Vajari, K., Pilehvar, B. & Shabanian, N. 2017. Interactions between tree layer diversity and some morphological traits and nutrient of leaves of hornbeam (Carpinus betulus L.) trees in Hyrcanian forests (Case study:
Asalam forest, Guilan). Journal of Plant Ecosystem Conservation 4(9): 49–60 (In Persian). http://pec.gonbad.ac.ir/article-1-216-en.html.
Nowghani, Z., Koohi, L., Panahi, P., Torabian, Y., Poorhashemi, M. & Hashemi, A. 2016. Non-destructive leaf area estimation of indicator tree species of Hyrcanian collection, National Botanical Garden of Iran. Journal of Applied Biology 29(1): 175–190 (In Persian). DOI: 10.22051/jab.2016.2475.
Panahi, P., Pourmajidian, M., Jamzad, Z. & Fallah, A. 2011. The value of micromorphological leaf and pollen traits for distinguishing species of the genus Oak in Iran. Iranian Journal of Forest and Poplar Research 19(1): 163–179 (In Persian). DOI: 10.22092/ijfpr.2011.107628.
Riahee, A., Assadi, M., Zare, H. & Mehregan, I. 2022. Systematics of Carpinus: molecular phylogeny and morphology. Journal of Genetic Resources 8(1): 69–80. DOI: 10.22080/jgr.2021.22257.1277.
Sabeti, H. 2008. Forests, Trees and Shrubs of Iran. 5th edition. Yazd University Publications, Yazd, Iran.
Sadati, S.E. & Mostafanejad, S.R. 2009. Qualitative and quantitative investigation on plantations of lime tree (Tilia platyphyllos) and Cappadocian maple (Acer cappadocicum) in Chamestan region, northern Iran. Iranian Journal of Forest
and Poplar Research 16(3): 408–418 (In Persian). https://ijfpr.areeo.ac.ir/article_108001.html.
Sekhavati, N. & Yaghotipoor, A. 2020. Morpho-logical assessment of Quercus brantii Lindel. leaves in Zagros forests, Kermanshah. Environment, Natural Resources and Sustainable Development Studies Journal 12: 1–5 (In Persian). https://www.noormags.ir/view/fa/articlepage/1699059.
Shayanmehr, F., Jalali, S.Gh., Hosseinzadeh Colagar, A., Zare, H. & Yousefzadeh, H. 2014. Morphological variations of genus Alnus in Iran: assessment of five new taxa. Taxonomy and Biosystematics 6(18): 45–64 (In Persian). https://tbj.ui.ac.ir/article_17505.html.
Takhtajan, A. 1997. Diversity and classification of flowering plants. Columbia University Press, New York, 620 pp.
Thorne, T.F. 1992. Classification and geography of the flowering plants. Botanical Review 58: 225–348. DOI: 10.1007/BF02858611.
Yousefzadeh, H., Akbarian, M.R. & Akbarinia, M. 2008. Variation in leaf morphology of Parrotia persica along an elevational gradiant in Eastern Mazandaran province (N. Iran). Rostaniha 9(2): 178–189 (In Persian). https://rostaniha.areeo.ac.ir/article_101604.html.
Yousefzadeh, H., Tabari, M., Hosseinzadeh Colagar, A., Assadi, M., Sattarian, A. & Zare, H. 2010. Variation in Leaf Morphology of Tilia spp. of in Hyrcanian forests. Taxonomy and Biosystematics 2(3): 11–24 (In Persian). https://tbj.ui.ac.ir/article_17374.html.
Yuan, C., Zhang, Z., Jin, G., Zheng, Y., Zhou, Z., Sun, L. & Tong, H. 2021. Genetic parameters and genotype by environment interactions influencing growth and productivity in Masson pine in east and central China. Forest Ecology and Management 487: 118991. DOI: 10.1016/j.foreco.2021.118991.
Zhou, Q., Zhao, F., Zhang, H. & Zhu, Z. 2022. Responses of the growth, photosynthetic characteristics, endogenous hormones and antioxidant activity of Carpinus betulus L. seedlings to different light intensities. Frontiers in Plant Science 13: 1055984. DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2022.1055984.