Morphological Diversity and Phytogeographic Patterns of Chrysophyllum albidum (Sapotaceae) in Benin

Chrysophyllum albidum is an agroforestry tree that provides enormous goods and services to local populations in West Africa. The unbridled use of organs the specy, causes its vulnerability, even its disappearance in certain regions, in Benin. The present study aims to evaluate the morphological diversity of populations of C. albidum in Benin, in order to differentiate individuals of the specy and target interesting morphotypes for its conservation. Nine (9) variables were used to evaluation of the phenotypic diversity of sixty (60) fruiting trees of the specy, selected in four (04) phytodistricts of Benin. To determine the inter and intra-population variability of the specy, the descriptive statistic was carried out on the quantitative morphology variables of trees by population, and for all populations. The recorded morphological variables were subjected to ANOVA to test the variability of morphological descriptors within phytodistricts and between soil type levels. An Ascending Hierarchical Classification was performed to identify the different morphotypes of the specy. The results obtained reveal significant variability in certain morphological descriptors used, depending on the phytodistricts and soil groups. We observe depending on soil types, seven significant morphological descriptors, with a significance rate of 77.78% (higher) compared to five significant morphological descriptors for the phytodistricts, with a significance rate of 55.56% (lower). So, in Benin, soil types discriminate C. albidum, much more than phytodistricts. The descriptors based on the fruits and the leaves of trees of the specy are more discriminants than those the trunk and crown. Three (03) morphotypes of C. albidum were obtained in Benin. Chrysophyllum albidum’s plants of the phytodistricts Coastal and Plateau belong to the same phenotypic class while the trees of the phytodistricts Pobè and Valley of Ouémé each have a morphotype of the specy. Consisting of relatively short trees bearing longer and wider leaves and fruits, the morphotype of C. albidum from the phytodistrict Valley of Ouémé is better indicated for future selections. These various data found must be further supplemented by the molecular genetics characterization, for confirm genetic diversity of the species and support its reproduction programs.