engleski

Population genetic diversity of European black poplar in Slovenia and Croatia and efforts for its dynamic conservation in endangered forest ecosystems

The European black poplar (Populus nigra L.) is a pioneer tree of alluvial forests (the priority habitate type 91E0*) and one of the most threatened indigenous tree species in Europe. We analysed the genetic diversity of 10 black poplar populations along the main rivers systems across Slovenia and Croatia (rivers Soča, Sava, Drava and Mura) by using 6 microsatellite loci (WPMS16, WPMS20, WPMS14, PMGC14, WPMS09, WMPS18). Eleven common cultivated clones of Populus 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 study indicate that the gene pool of remaining P. nigra populations maintains high genetic connectivity even if fragmented today. In natural populations the introgression of genes of P. deltoides was very low. The obtained results are discussed in view of dynamic P. nigra conservation in endangered forest ecosystems and its protection at regional and national level.

Black poplar; genetic diversity

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