Fruit and seed traits of Berberis croatica Horvat and Berberis vulgaris L.

Abstract

Fruit and seed traits ofBerberis croaticaHorvat andBerberis vulgarisL.The three year variability of fruits and seeds was investigated inBerberis croatica(Vošac, Mt Biokovo, Rakov Potok near Zagreb) and inB. vulgaris(Fran Kušan Pharmaceutical Botanical Garden in Zagreb).Berberis croaticahad the following dimensions of fruits (seeds): length 7.28-7.88 (4.57-5.03) mm; width 3.85-3.99 (width 1: 2.06-2.20; width 2: 1.44-1.63) mm; weight 0.065-0.078 (0.0116-0.0134) g. Dimensions ofB. vulgarisfruits (seeds) were: length 10.20-11.29 (5.71-6.24) mm; width 5.29-5.83 (width 1: 2.40-2.71; width 2: 1.60-1.98) mm; weight 0.1602-0.2199 (0.0146-0.0235) g. The fruit shape of both species was similar and the length/width ratio was 1.91-2.04 inB. croaticaand 1.77-2.07 inB. vulgaris.The number of seeds per fruit was 1.23-1.58 inB. croaticaand 1.36-1.54 inB. vulgaris. Generally, fruits and seeds ofB. vulgariswere significantly longer, wider and heavier than fruits and seeds ofB. croatica. ANOVA showed significant statistical differences between populations for all analyzed fruit and seed traits while the species significantly differed in all traits, except in the fruit shape and number of seeds in fruit.