title: Morphological versus molecular markers to describe variability in Juniperus excelsa subsp. excelsa (Cupressaceae).
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Juniperus excelsa M.-Bieb. is a major forest element in the mountains of the eastern part of Mediterranean and sub-Mediterranean regions. This study comprises the first morphological investigation covering a large part of the geographical range of J. excelsa and aims to verify the congruency between the morphological results and molecular results of a previous study.
  
  
  METHODS
  We studied 14 populations sampled from Greece, Cyprus, Ukraine, Turkey and Lebanon, 11 of which have previously been investigated using molecular markers. Three hundred and ninety-four individuals of J. excelsa were examined using nine biometric features characterizing cones, seeds and shoots, and eight derived ratios. Statistical analyses were conducted in order to evaluate the intra- and inter-population morphological variability.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The level of intra-population variability observed did not show any geographical trends. The total variation mostly depended on the ratios of cone diameter/seed width and seed width/seed length. The discrimination analysis, the Ward agglomeration method and barrier analysis results showed a separation of the sampled populations into three main clusters. These results confirmed, in part, the geographical differentiation revealed by molecular markers with a lower level of differentiation and a less clear geographical pattern. The most differentiated populations using both markers corresponded to old, isolated populations in the high altitudes of Lebanon (>2000 m). Moreover, a separation of the northern Turkish population from the southern Turkish populations was observed using both markers.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Morphological variation together with genetic and biogeographic studies make an effective tool for detecting relict plant populations and also populations subjected to more intensive selection.
authors: Laboratoire 'Caractérisation Génomique des Plantes', Faculté des Sciences ,  Université Saint-Joseph ,  Campus Sciences et Technologies, Mar Roukos, Mkalles, BP: 1514 Riad el Solh, Beirut 1107 2050 ,  Lebanon.
authors: Bouchra
authors: B
authors: Douaihy
authors: Karolina
authors: K
authors: Sobierajska
authors: Anna Katarzyna
authors: AK
authors: Jasińska
authors: Krystyna
authors: K
authors: Boratyńska
authors: Tolga
authors: T
authors: Ok
authors: Angel
authors: A
authors: Romo
authors: Nathalie
authors: N
authors: Machon
authors: Yakiv
authors: Y
authors: Didukh
authors: Magda
authors: M
authors: Bou Dagher-Kharrat
authors: Adam
authors: A
authors: Boratyński