2013, 26(4): 528-532.
The study aims at compare and analyze the variation pattern of the phenotype characters and starch content of Quercus mongolica seed of different provenances. The length, width, length/width ratio, single kernel weight of Q. mongolica seeds from 16 natural distribution regions in China were measured and analyzed. The results showed that there were extremely significant differences among seeds from different region in seed characters. The length and width of seeds ranged from 14.76 mm to 21.08 mm and from 11.87 mm to 15.31 mm, respectively. The length/width ratio of seeds ranged from 1.21 to 1.49. The single kernel weight ranged from 0.60 g to 1.78 g and the contents of starch ranged from 4.42 g·kg-1 to 5.48 g·kg-1. The length of seeds has a extremely significant positive correlation with the width and weight of seed, and the width of seed had a significant positive correlation with the weight of seed. The seed width has a significant positive correlation with contents of starch. The width of seeds had a significant negative correlation with altitude, and had a positive correlation with July’s mean temperature. The weight of seed had a significant positive correlation with July's mean temperature too. The correlation of the other phenotypic character and starch content of Q. mongolica seed to geographical climate factors was not significant. According to the results of cluster analysis, sixteen Q. mongolica provenances could be divided into three groups with big fruit and high starch content, middle fruit and starch content, small fruit and low starch content, in which the provenances from Dailing of Heilongjiang Province, Benxi of Liaoning Province and Dayangshu of Inner Mongolia were the superior provenances.