Fertility Variation in Wild Rose (Rosa canina) over Habitat Classes

Number of fruits (female fertility), stamens (male fertility) and filled seeds were assessed in wild rose (Rosa canina L.) populations sampled from Beysehir watershed divided into two main (A & B) and six sub-habitats classes based on ecological characters. Fertility variation, effective number and coancestry were estimated based on fecundity assessment in the populations. Beside, the habitats were compared by multiple analyses of variance. Results showed that main habitats (A & B) had similar mean and coefficients of variation for the assessments. The mean values among sub-habitats within the main habitat 'A' varied considerably unlike the main habitat 'B' which was more homogenous. Coefficient of variation of fecundity estimates among individuals was more than 60% in main habitats and most of the sub-habitats. Variation was the lowest for seed number in main and sub-habitats and the highest for female flower production in main and sub-habitats (with the exception of one sub-habitat). Coancestry computed with total gene pool of flowers was higher than that for number of filled seeds in both main and sub habitats. Statistically significant (p <= 0.05) differences were found among habitat classes for flower and filled seed productions. Results emphasized that habitat class was more effective on production of studied characters than that of fertility variation. (C) 2011 Friends Science Publishers