Genetic differentiation of Norway spruce (Picea abies (L.) Karst.) trees with diferent crown types from the mountain Golija

Abstract

The knowledge of genetic diversity degree of given species is of great importance for the successful process of breeding and genetic conservation. The aim of conducted research was to determine the genetic differentiation of Norway spruce (Picea abies (L.) Karst) genotypes with very specific narrow pyramidal and normal crown type, which grows at different altitude of the mountain Golija. For assessment of genetic similarities or differences between studied genotypes co-dominant microsatellite system had been used. This system has proven to be reliable and efficient in the genetic characterization of plant species. In total 22 primer sets have been tested, while 16 (73%) of them resulted in the successful yield of the amplified product. The analysis show that studied individuals had in total 130 alleles, in average 8.125 polymorphic alleles per each locus. The lowest polymorphism was detected in the locus EATC1D10, EATC1F03B and EATC2G09, while the highest level of polymorphism was detected in EATC2G08. Based on microsatellite date and similarity matrix, cluster analysis dendrogram indicates existence of the vertical differentiation of studied genotypes, which is consistent with results of previous Norway spruce studies.