Mgendi, Mariam G.; Nyomora, Agnes M.; Manoko, Mkabwa K.
Description:
The use of morphological markers to assess variations between and within cultivated and non-cultivated provenances of
Moringa oleifera Lam. from selected coastal regions of Tanzania was studied. A descriptors list of 15 selected morphological
characters was used to generate a character state matrix. Cluster analysis using NTSYS-pc and UPGMA program produced six clusters
with similarity ranging from 66% to 100%. The majority cultivated and non-cultivated clusters with similarity ranging from 86-100%
and 97-100% respectively reflected a clustering pattern based on the status of individuals whether cultivated or non-cultivated. Most
individuals from same population clustered differently indicating high morphological variations within populations than between
populations. The present results suggest that selection and conservation of elite germplasm could be achieved by considering
individuals from both cultivated and non-cultivated plants.