2016, 29(5): 784-792.
[Objective] Melia azedarach is a multi-purpose fast growing timber tree species widely distributed in China. It is important to study the geographic variation pattern for seedlots and adaptive regions selection. [Method] 12 key traits of stone and seeds of 70 M. azedarach provenances collected from 17 provinces were used to analyze the geographic variation patterns by trend surface method.[Result] The results reveal that the traits variation of stones and seeds from different provenance are controlled by both longitude and latitude, but mainly the latitude variation. The performance within the distribution area in China totally follows a continuity of cline pattern. Among the traits observed, the width of stone and seeds shows a southwest-northeast gradient variation while hundred grain weight of stone and seeds mainly presents a northwest-southeast gradient variation. And peel 2 of stone shows a trend of south-north gradient variation. A positive linear relationship or a reverse parabolic curve relationship was found between traits and seedlots elevation, the width and weight of seeds and stones increased by the seedlot elevations. Based on the stone and seed traits, the cluster analysis and principal component analysis, the provenances can be divided into four groups.[Conclusion] Morphological differences of Melia Azedarach provenance shows that along with the change of the geographical factors, a variety of provenance forms their own ecological traits. Under similar geographical environment, the provenance traits performs similar trend. Increasing the molecular genetic evidence and long-term multi-location provenance trial could validate the reliability of the provenance regionalization.