Assessment of genetic diversity in two-species oak seed stands and their progeny populations

ISSN： 0282-7581

Source： Scandinavian Journal of Forest Research, Vol.27, Iss.1, 2012-01, pp. : 2-9

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Abstract

In this article, we examined the effects of the two modes of regeneration (natural vs. artificial) on the genetic diversity of Quercus robur (L.) and Quercus petrea (Matt.) Liebl. populations. Using nuclear microsatellite markers, we investigated the genetic diversity of two-species oak seed stands (Jamy and Legnica, Poland) and their progeny – naturally regenerated stands and progeny plantations. A statistically significant excess of homozygotes was noted for all progeny plantations, but the naturally regenerated populations were in Hardy–Weinberg equilibrium. On average, gene diversity in the five progeny plantations from Jamy decreased on average 3.73% and increased 1.26% in plantations from Legnica. However, almost in all plantations from both stands statistically significant excess of homozygotes was noted, and natural regenerations were in Hardy–Weinberg equilibrium. Additionally, the effective population size was several fold higher for naturally regenerated stands compared with progeny plantations. Impact of regeneration mode and potential hybridisation in modelling the level of genetic diversity of progeny populations are discussed.