Influence of Geographical and Climatic Factors on Quercus variabilis Blume Fruit Phenotypic Diversity

Quercus variabilis Blume is one of the most ecologically valuable tree species in China and known to have adaptive mechanisms climate change. Our objective was quantify variation pattern fruit morphology Q. variabilis. Fruit samples were collected from 43 natural populations autumn 2019. results indicated that coefficient (CV) length (FL) width (FW) 10.08% 11.21%, respectively. There significant differences FL, FW, length-to-width ratios (FL/FW) among studied populations. Also, there a positive correlation between FW FL. The FL decreased with increasing precipitation wettest quarter (PWQ). A concave trend observed variations equivalent latitude (ELAT), longitude (LON), annual mean air temperature (MAT), (AP). similar for FL/FW LON, MAT, AP. FL/FW, ELAT. cluster analysis revealed five groups study findings suggests has high levels phenotypic plasticity geographical climatic factors.