A MULTIVARIATE STUDY ON GENETIC-VARIATION IN TEAK (TECTONA-GRANDIS (L))

Genetic differentiation between populations of teak (Tectona grandis ( L.)) was examined in 9 quantitative characters and 10 allozyme loci. L arge differences between populations were revealed in the quantitative traits. Regional patterns were revealed by multivariate analysis of t he data, but there were also substantial variation within ecological-g eographical defined regions. The differentiation between provenances f rom Laos were found to be less than the variation within Thailand, Wes t India and Indonesia. A much less pronounced differentiation between populations was found in allozyme markers. The fixation index (F-ST) w as only 4%, and no clear geographical pattern was found in the allozym e data. However, some differences were found in the level of diversity . An assignment procedure based on allozyme markers did not prove effi cient in differentiating between populations, but this was probably a result of the low F-ST value. The larger differentiation between popul ations in morphological traits than in allozyme markers is probably a result of adaptation through natural selection and, possibly, a higher mutation rate in quantitative traits than in allozyme loci. Similar r esult have been found in other studies of forest trees.