Comparison between clonal and sexual plantlets of Detarium microcarpum Guill. & Perr., a savanna tree species in Burkina Faso

An understanding of the proportion of true seedlings, seedling sprouts and root suckers in the forest is essential for directing the genetic composition of the future crop. We conducted a study to determine the difference between these plantlets of Detarium microcarpum based on morphological characters and carbohydrate contents in leaves and roots. For individuals ≤50 cm in height, root suckers had the highest values for height, stem length, internode number, root diameter, rachis length and leaflet number. The concentrations of starch and total nonstructural carbohydrates in the roots of seedling sprouts were superior. Plantlets did not differ in the concentration of leaf carbohydrates. For individuals >50 cm in height, root suckers had larger values for stem length, root diameter, leaflet length and width. Roots of seedling sprouts showed higher concentrations of soluble sugars and total soluble sugars. True seedlings were distinguished from seedling sprouts and root suckers using all morphological traits except collar diameter and leaflet number. Root suckers and seedling sprouts showed a closer morphological resemblance; thus resulted in slightly more than 50% discrimination success. In conclusion, discrimination between seedling sprouts and root suckers appeared to be more difficult than between true seedlings and clonal plantlets.