Intraspecific phenotypic variation of common juniper in Cis-Urals and the South Urals

Endogenous, individual and ecological-geographic variation of common juniper Juniperus communis L. in 10 coenopupulations in Cis-Urals and the South Urals by 17 quantitative morphological traits of generative and vegetative organswere studied. Endogenous variation of most traits of generative organs is characterized by a low and very low level, individual variability is close or some exceeding to intra-individual one. Parameters of vegetative organs are more variable both at endogenous sample level and at individual one. Ecological-geographic variability of many traits some yields or corresponds to the level of endogenous and individual variability. However, separate traits (mass of 1000 cones, number of seeds per cone, length of annual increment of III order shoots, needle length and width) vary more between coenopopulations than in the limits of ones. Some traits are connect by correlation dependencies with natural-climatic factors of locations – geographic latitude and to a lesser degree with longitude and altitude, sum of active temperatures and amount of precipitation. The obtained data indicate the significant morphological diversity of individuals within coenopopulations as well as phenotypic specifics of coenopopulations and two main inhabited regions – Cis-Urals and the South Urals. The presented material is the base for further analysis of population structure of common juniper in the region, development of measures for species gene pool preservation, fulfillment of breeding selection of individuals and coenopopulations by one or another economically valuable trait (large-coned, with the most portion of pulp in cones, long-needled and others)