MORPHOMETRIC ANALYSIS FOR THE EVALUATION OF DIVERSITY WITHIN AND AMONG VERONICA ANAGALLIS-AQUATICA L. POPULATIONS IN IRAN

Water speedwells (Veronica anagallis-aquatica L.) mostly occur in damp freshwater places. They show a high level of phenotypic plasticity in response to variations in environmental factors, a characteristic that allows them to occur over a wide range of conditions. Populations of V. anagallis-aquatica are scattered in many parts of Iran and often have a wide variation in the same region while having a similar appearance in different regions. We attempt to provide an accurate estimate of diversity within and among populations. Also, using the analysis of habitat characteristics and morphological traits, we aim to determine the distribution pattern of specific morphotypes. Here, we present a morphometric study based on 39 morphological and four ecological characters for 576 individuals from the north, northwest, and center of Iran. The analyses of habitat factors and morphological traits showed that morphotypes were distributed in a specific habitat with a cline of diversity from the northeastern to the northwest, west, and center of Iran. Morphometric results showed a high level of intraspecific variability and diversity among populations. Seed weight, number of seeds per capsule, the length and width of the capsule, number of lateral racemes, number of pollen per flower, length of sepals, and peduncle position were the most important characters to predict the overall variation and diversity of the individuals and populations. Electrical conductivity and pH were important characters influencing the distribution of morphotypes.