engleski

Genetic diversity and genetic differentiation of european black poplar populations in the sub-alpine region

The European black poplar (Populus nigra L:) is a pioneer of floodplain forests on alluvial sites which belongs to the priority EC habitat type 91E0* (Alluvial forests with Alnus glutinosa and Fraxinus excelsior/Alno-Padion, Alnion incanae, Salicion albae, Anex I, Habitat Directive 1992) and takes part in the Natura 2000 network. European black poplar is one of the most threatened indigenous tree species in Europe. We analysed the genetic diversity and genetic differentiation of 10 black poplar populations in its natural habitats along the main river systems across Slovenia and Croatia (the rivers Soca, Sava, Drava and Mura) by using six microsatelite loci (WPMS16, WPMS20, WPMS14, PMGC14, WPMS09, WPMS18) and combined analysis with Austrian data for the rivers Mura and Danube with same microsatelites. Eleven common cultivated clones of Popolus x canadensis were included in order to assess the level of introgression of genes of the American Eastern cottonwood, P. deltoides, into the gene pool of native black poplar. The results of this study indicate that the gene pool of remaining Populus nigra populations maintains high genetic connectivity across three European countries, even if fragmented today. In natural populationsnthe introgression of genes of Populus nigra populations in Central Europe and discussed in view of natural habitat conservation and its protection at the regional and national levels.

Popolus nigra L.; microsatelite; genetic variability; introgression

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