Taximetrics: A tool in the morphological characterization of lagenaria siceraria (mol.) Standl.

Abstract

Taximetrics as a tool in the morphological characterization of twenty-four landraces of Lagenaria siceraria (Mol.) Standl found in Nigeria were accessed across fifteen states of the federation. Investigation involving morphological characters was studied to elucidate the diversity in fruit shapes of the species. The observation made, showed vital variations which are useful in biosystematics. The qualitative result obtained shows similarity in morphological characters apart from the dissimilarity observed in fruit and seed shape and size. The taximetrics analysis result grouped them into two major groups with a common ancestor, hence indicating the close relationship amongst the species, this depicts that a morphological character is a useful tool in the taxonomic delimitation of L. siceraria complex and as such the species should remain as a single species based on this line of taxonomic evidence.