Variability in Service Tree (Sorbus domestica L.) populations in Serbia

The variability among and within four populations in Service Tree (Sorbus domestica L.) in Serbia (Valjevo, Cacak, Novi Pazar and Bor) were examined based on 11 morphological characters. Examined morphological characters were: fruit length (FL), fruit width (FW), fruit stem length (FSL), number of fruits per 1 kg (NF/FM), number of seeds per 1 kg of fruits (SN/FM), mass of seeds per 1 kg of fruits (MS/MF), mass of fruits for 1 kg of seeds (FS/MS), mass of 1000 seeds (AMS), seed width (SW), seed thickness (ST) and seed length (SL). The variability of examined characters was described by parameters of descriptive statistics. Relationship among populations was described also by cluster analysis. The results of coefficients of variation among populations emphasize the significance of fruit number and mass characters (NF/FM, SN/FM, MS/MF and FS/MS), as well as mass of 1000 seeds (AMS) in discrimination of examined population. Also, cluster analysis showed the similarities of between populations Valjevo and Bor and clear distinction between them and two other populations. Results of this work could be utilized in further work on breeding in this noble tree species.