Morphological Variability of <i>Prosopis africana</i> (Guill., Perrott. Et Rich.) Taub in Benin, West Africa

Abstract

The morphological variability of Prosopis africana in its natural range (which includes three climate zones: Guinean zone, Sudano-Guinean zone and Sudanese zone) of Benin was studied on the basis of forest inventory carried out in three different vegetation types (savannah, fallow and field). The data recorded in 139 plots of 1000 m 2 each related to the diameter at breast height (1.3 m over the ground level), the bole height, the height to the first branch, crown height, the crown diameter, number of branches on each individual tree. In these plots, 143 sheets were used to determine the length of leaf, the pinna length, leaflets' length, numbers of pinna, the number of leaflets, and the stalk diameter. In addition, 735 cloves were measured to determine the fruit pods' diameter, pod length, the total fruit weight and number of seeds per fruit, the seed length, the weight of a seed, and pulp weight. Analysis of variance components shows that the variability of Prosopis is generally greater among individuals than within vegetation types and climatic zones. Discriminant analysis showed that of the 19 morphometric characters seven (7) in the vegetation types and twelve (12) in climate zones revealed a statistically significant discriminating pattern r (prob. <0.0001). From ascending cluster of 481 P. africana trees measured, 10 morphogroups were depicted on the basis of 19 morphometric characteristics (R 2 = 52.6%).