INTERACTION OF GROWTH AND REPRODUCTION CHARACTERISTICS IN CAROB TREE (CERATONIA SILIQUA L.) POPULATIONS

This study was carried out in three natural populations of Carob tree (Ceratonia siliqua L.) to determine the difference and interaction for reproductive and growth characteristics among populations and within population based on tree height, diameter at base, crown diameter and age, and number and weights of pod and seed for two consecutive years (2013 2014). Large differences accordance with results of analysis of variance was found among populations and within population, and also between years for reproductive and growth characteristics. Averages of reproductive characteristics were higher in first year than that of second year. For instance, weight of pod was between 9.8 kg and 59.9 kg in a population in first year, while it was between 8.1 kg and 65.2 at the same population for second year. Weights of pod were 3.9 kg and 2.3 kg in polled populations for first and second year, respectively. The most productive ten trees produced more than 30% of total seed and pod productions in the populations. The relations among the characteristics changed for the years and populations.