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Extensive Clonal Assemblies in Populus alba and Populus x canescens from the Iberian Peninsula

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Abstract

Riparian vegetation in temperate zones holds great environmental importance and thus its conservation should be a priority. Among riverine tree species, genus Populus stands out, being also a model organism in research. In this work, we present a genetic analysis of the hybrid Populus x canescens and its parent species Populus alba and Populus tremula, with special emphasis in P. alba with which backcrosses frequently occur. This study focuses on the river Douro basin (Spain) where the presence of hybrids has been previously reported. Nuclear microsatellite markers and Bayesian statistical analysis have been used for the detection of hybrids and purebred stands. This methodology has also made possible the study of clonality in the taxonomic continuum P. alba–P. x canescens. Our results highlight the existence of a small number of genotypes accounting for most of the individual trees and stands. Possible causes leading to this situation are discussed. Also, the presence of individuals genetically close to ornamental cultivars is reported for the first time. Finally, concern about the present situation of P. alba genetic resources is brought up.

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Acknowledgments

We are grateful to J.A. Oria for the advice in locating P. x canescens populations, to I. Villamediana and D. Rodríguez for contributing in the sampling, C. Escudero for providing P. tremula genotypes, to Jesús Martínez for drawing the maps and D. Macaya-Sanz for the valuable discussions. Thanks are extended to three anonymous reviewers whose comments significantly improved the manuscript. This research was supported by ‘Junta de Castilla y León,’ projects VA-028A07 and VA-046A05 and the Spanish Ministry of Education, FPU grant AP-2007-03302 to Luis Santos-del-Blanco.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Forest Ecology and Genetics, INIA-CIFOR, Carretera A Coruña km 7.5, 28040, Madrid, Spain

    Luis Santos-del-Blanco & Santiago C. González-Martínez

  2. Sustainable Forest Management Research Institute, University of Valladolid / INIA-CIFOR http://sostenible.palencia.uva.es

    Luis Santos-del-Blanco, Ana I. de-Lucas, Santiago C. González-Martínez, Rosario Sierra-de-Grado & Elena Hidalgo

  3. Departamento de Producción Vegetal y Recursos Forestales, E.T.S. Ingenierías Agrarias, Universidad de Valladolid, Avenida de Madrid 44, 34071, Palencia, Spain

    Rosario Sierra-de-Grado & Elena Hidalgo

  4. ITAGRA.CT (Centro Tecnológico Agrario y Agroalimentario), Campus Universitario “La Yutera”, Edif. A. Avda. de Madrid, 44, 34071, Palencia, Spain

    Ana I. de-Lucas

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  1. Luis Santos-del-Blanco
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  2. Ana I. de-Lucas
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  3. Santiago C. González-Martínez
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Correspondence to Luis Santos-del-Blanco.

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Communicated by A. Brunner

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Santos-del-Blanco, L., de-Lucas, A.I., González-Martínez, S.C. et al. Extensive Clonal Assemblies in Populus alba and Populus x canescens from the Iberian Peninsula. Tree Genetics & Genomes 9, 499–510 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11295-012-0574-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11295-012-0574-8

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