Taxonomic reliability of leaf and fruit morphological characteristics of the Pyrus L. taxa in Slovakia

Abstract

 A population of 1,149 pear individuals from Slovakia is analysed according to their morphological characteristics of fruits and leaves. Three basic taxa were identified – Pyrus pyraster, Pyrus amphigenea and Pyrus nivalis. Qualitative traits (shape of leaf blade, fruit shape, type of leaf or fruit base, etc.) allowed the exact identification of a particular taxon only in some cases. Quantitative characteristics of leaves proved to be more suitable for the identification of analysed taxa. Statistically significant differences were found between all studied taxa in the values of leaf length and width, and also in the values of relative characteristics that described the leaf shape. Exceptionally the length of leaf petiole had very variable values (S<sub>x</sub><sub>% </sub>= 25.70–29.75%), therefore it was impossible to classify the species according to this character. Generally, fruit shapes and dimensions are less representative for taxonomy use although significant differences between all studied taxa were found in the values of fruit length. The correct taxonomic classification of pears cannot be done according to one characteristic. It is important to consider a few of them (shape and length of leaf blade or its slenderness, shape quotients and also the shape and length of fruits) for the appropriate classification of pear individuals.