Variability and phenotypic divergence of sage populations (Salvia officinalis L.) under conditions of ex situ conservation

Abstract

The following four traits in seven populations of sage (Salvia officinalis L.) under conditions of ex situ conservation, were observed: plant height (cm), herb yield (g), leaf yield (g) and essential oil content (%). Significant differences of their values, i.e. great variability of traits among observed populations were determined. The hierarchical cluster analysis was used to estimate the degree of their divergence. Three clusters, i.e. three varietal groups of different phenotypic properties were observed on a tree diagram. The linkage of genotypes into groups was in the function of the properties with greater variability. Information about forms of divergence of these genotypes is important in sage breeding and hybridisation planning.

Kod sedam populacija žalfije (Salvia officinalis L.) u uslovima ex situ konzervacije, ispitivani su visina (cm), prinos herbe i lišća po biljci (g) i sadržaj etarskog ulja (%). Utvrđene su značajne razilke u njihovim vrednostima, što ukazuje na veliku varijabilnost između populacija. Za procenu stepena njihove divergencije korišćena je hijerarhijska klaster analiza. Na dendrogramu su se izdvojila tri klastera, odnosno tri grupe populacija različitih kompleksa fenotipskih karakteristika. Povezivanje genotipova u grupe bilo je u funkciji osobina koje imaju veću varijabilnost.