Population structure of a riparian willow species, Salix viminalis L.

Abstract

Material sampled along 11 rivers of the western part of Salix viminalis L. natural range (in Poland, Germany and Austria), as well as in stands in Sweden and Belgium, was assayed for 15 isozyme loci and cuttings were installed in two field experiments located in a nursery south of Uppsala, where growth traits were measured. These data were used to test hypotheses on the origin of Swedish populations, on the part played by rivers in the genetic differentiation and on the relative differentiation at isozyme and quantitative trait loci. Although significant, the overall population differentiation was low, the F(ST) value being around 4%. Much higher F(ST) values were observed between subpopulations from southern (Skane) and central Sweden. This strong population differentiation, accompanied by significant linkage disequilibria, suggests the recent and diverse origin of Swedish populations. Degrees of differentiation between and within Polish river systems were of the same magnitude, indicating the presence of gene flow between river systems. Flow-regulated waterways, associated with higher human disturbance, may well explain why populations along rivers of the western part of the study area exhibited significant differentiation patterns while no differentiation could be detected along the less disturbed riparian habitats of eastern Poland. Finally, higher F(ST) values were obtained for quantitative trait loci than for isozyme loci but, with two notable exceptions, their 95% confidence intervals overlapped.