Fruit and seed diversity of Smilax excelsa in the Black Sea Region, Turkey

Abstract

Smilax excelsa L., a member of the Smilacaceae family, can be used as a non-wood forest product because it is a medicinal and aromatic plant. In this study, fruits obtained from six different regions (Araklı-Arsin-Sarıca populations in Trabzon province, Yakakent population in Samsun province, Erfelek population in Sinop province, Amasra population in Bartın province) were used. After measuring the fruit length and width values on the collected fruits, the fruit fleshes were removed. Then, on the obtained seeds, the seed length, seed width, and 1000 seed weight values were determined. As a result of the study, Trabzon-Sarıca population had the highest value (117.55 g) in terms of 1000 seed weight, while the Samsun-Yakakent population had the highest values in terms of all measurements made on fruits and seeds (fruit length and width, seed length and width). In addition, statistical differences were determined depending on all characteristics measured and it was found that three different groups of populations were formed as a result of hierarchical cluster analysis. These differences show that there are morphogenetic variations within the natural distribution areas of the species. Detailed consideration of the chemical contents of Samsun-Yakakent and Trabzon-Sarıca populations can be suggested because of the high values in terms of fruit and seed dimensions for the use of these species as non-wood forest products.