This paper aims at studying the morphological variation among Moringa oleifera Lam. populations in 8 sites in Egypt. Most of the measured tree variables differed significantly among the studied sites. The population of Qanatir Horticulture Research Institute had the maximum size (853.8 m3 tree-1), diameter of canopy (9.9 m tree-1), and stem at breast height (63.4 cm tree-1); while those of Sheikh Zuweid had the minimum size (5.6 m3 tree-1) and height (2.0 m tree-1). Many branching modes of the main trunk were observed, where sympodial branching was dominant in most sites. M. oleifera leaves in Botanical Garden of Faculty of Education (Ain Shams University) were the longest (59.6 cm), while those in Sheikh Zuweid were the shortest (24.5 cm). On the other hand, the pods of the trees in Qanatir Horticulture Research Institute were the longest (50.4 cm). In addition, the pods of Botanical Garden of Faculty of Education (Ain Shams University) contained the maximum number of seeds (21.8 seed pod-1), while the heaviest seeds were those of Sheikh Zuweid (270.0 mg seed-1). Variation in the morphological attributes of M. oleifera (trees, leaves, pods and seeds) may be related to the age difference, variation in the environmental conditions (particularly soil properties), as well as within-species genetic variation. Thus, a further study, to assess the age and genetic variation among the populations of this tree in Egypt, should be carried out. |
