Genetic diversity and temporal genetic structure in European beech (Fagus sylvatica L.).

Abstract

The genetic diversity and temporal genetic structure of four isolated European beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) stands from Germany were studied by using nine allozyme loci (GOT-B, IDH-A, LAP-A, MDH-B, MDH-C, MNR-A, 6-PGDH-A, PGI-B and PGM-A). The allelic multiplicity was higher in seed samples than adult trees indicating gene flow from neighbor stands. Genetic diversity ranged from 1.405 to 1.536 and average observed heterozygosity ranged from 0.239 to 0.325 for the four stands. The genetic differentiation in allelic frequencies between the seed lots produced in two different years was low (do were 4.2% and 5.4%, F-ST were 0.9% and 1.2% for two stands 10A(21) and IOA(22)). Genetic differentiation in allelic frequencies between seed trees and seed generations were rather low (do ranged from 4.1% to 6.2%, F-ST ranged from -0.9% to 0.4% for two stands 10A(21) and 10A(22)). Some aspects related to seed sampling were discussed.