Genetic differentiation of larch populations from the larix olgensis range and their relationships with larches from Siberia and Russian Far East

Abstract

Random amplification polymorphic DNA (RAPD) markers were used to assess genetic differentiation between twelve larch populations from various parts of the Larix olgensis A. Henry range and to reveal the genetic relationships between these populations and pure larch species (L. sibirica, L. gmelinii, L. cajanderi, L. kamtschatica and L. kaempferi) and hybrid larch species (L. amurensis, L. komarovii and L. ochotensis) from Siberia and Russian Far East. Analysis of Nei's genetic distance values and molecular variance revealed a significant differentiation between the L. olgensis range populations that was similar in magnitude to that among species. It was found that these populations are as genetically distant from population collected L. olgensis locus classicus as from other pure larch species. At the same time, the similarity of the L. olgensis range populations to hybrid species located in adjacent territories was shown. A possible scenario to explain these results is suggested. © 2007, Taylor & Francis Group, LLC.