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Sep 20, 2024Keywords:
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Phenotypic characterization of the Rwandan stinging nettle (Urtica massaica Mildbr.) with emphasis on leaf morphological differences
Abstract
Patterns of intraspecific variation based on environmental conditions in which populations live may reflect adaptive responses to their habitats. The Rwandan stinging nettle (Urtica massaica Mildbr.) plant grows in most parts of Rwanda both in the wild and domestication forms. While the plant can easily be identified through its leaves and life form, it has been observed that the leaf morphology slightly varies from one region to another. This study aimed to investigate morphological variations, particularly in leaf morphology of the Rwandan stinging nettle (Urtica massaica Mildbr.) growing in the highland, midland, and lowland. Specimens of the stinging nettle were taken from different sites located in the three altitudinal zones. The stinging nettle plant heights and leaf lengths varied from one site to another with 1m, 3.3m, and 1m as mean plant height for highland, midland, and lowland respectively; and 5.14cm, 16.17cm, and 19cm as mean leaf length for highland, midland and lowland respectively. The statistical analysis revealed that the average plant heights, as well as leaf lengths of mature stinging nettle samples from highland, midland, and lowland, were significantly different (p<0.05). The results also showed that there were morphological differences, particularly in leaves among the three altitudinal zones. The most prominent difference was in the main vein length of the stinging nettle with 12.37cm, 19.43cm, and 16.25cm as the mean overall main vein length for highland, midland, and lowland respectively. Changes in leaf morphology can be linked to differences in environment conditions and nutrient availability between the three habitats which could have enabled the species to evolve differently. However, there is a need for further research to examine the heritability of the observed phenotypic changes for future populations of Urtica massaica plant in Rwanda.
