Homogeneity of pollen allele frequencies of single seed trees in Picea abies (L.) Karst. plantations

Abstract

Allelic frequency distributions of genetically effective pollen clouds, which pollinated a total of 21 single seed trees in three populations of Norway spruce (Picea abies (L.) Karst.), were determined at seven polymorphic isozyme marker loci and compared with genetic structures of population samples. Differentiation among populations and among pollen allele frequencies of single seed trees within populations is low. In general, genetic distances between pollen and population gene pools are small. Both population and single tree outcrossing rates are high. Deviations from random mating are statistically significant at several marker loci for single seed trees. Results indicate extensive gene flow by pollen both within and among populations, which may counteract adaptive and nonadaptive processes of genetic differentiation. © 1995 The Genetical Society of Great Britain.