Genetic variability and differentiation of geographically marginal Scots pine populations from Ukraine

Abstract

Genetic variability of six geographically marginal Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) populations from Ukraine situated mainly on a longitudinal gradient was studied using allozymes and vertical PAGE technique. The populations have average observed heterozygosity Ho=0.262, and expected heterozygosity He=0.281. The mean value of Nei's genetic distance was 0.016, and FST was 0.020, similar to the values reported for Scots pine populations from other parts of the range. The obtained values of Nei's genetic distances (0.004 to 0.026) suggest that southern geographically marginal populations of Scots pine are as much differentiated as the central populations and have probably slightly higher level of differentiation than the northernmost populations.