Phenotypic variation in cultivated populations of Azadirachta indica in Yunnan, China
云南引种印楝实生种群的表型变异

Aims Our objectives were to investigate phenotypic variation of Azadirachta indica in cultivated populations and to describe the relationship between phenotypic variation of the cultivated populations and different distribution areas. Methods We investigated 14 phenotypic traits for 90 individuals in nine cultivated populations of A. indica from Yunnan Province of China and used variance analysis, nested analysis, correlation analysis, principal component analysis, UPGMA cluster analysis and multi-comparison to analyze results. Important findings Rich phenotypic variation existed both among and within populations, and variation was greater within populations than among populations. Duncan’s test of CV and the principal component analysis of phenotypic traits both indicated that the traits of fructification and seed chemical composition were the main factors accounting for the phenotypic variations. According to UPGMA cluster analysis, the populations of A. indica could be divided into four groups. These cluster results were not due to geographic distances. Findings will lay a foundation for genetic improvement in A. indica, and provide a scientific basis for working out breeding strategy in this species and for countermeasures of natural forest sustained utilization.