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Genetic variation of Fraxinus angustifolia natural populations in Greece based on nuclear and chloroplast microsatellite markers

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Abstract

Assessment of genetic variation within and among populations is an essential parameter for the effective conservation of forest genetic resources. In this work, the genetic diversity within and among natural populations of the forest tree species Fraxinus angustifolia Vahl in Greece was studied using selected nuclear and chloroplast microsatellite DNA loci. Eight natural populations of F. angustifolia were identified in different locations of the mainland of Greece, and a total of 230 individuals were studied. High polymorphism was observed within populations, while the genetic differentiation among populations was moderate. Intra-population diversity was correlated with geographical coordinates, but no isolation by distance was observed. Of the three haplotypes identified, only one was dominant. Putative ancestral haplotypes were found at small spatial scales suggesting that population expansions could have originated in the region. This study located in sympatry haplotypes that in other parts of Europe are in allopatry, reinforcing the notion of population expansions from the south of Balkans including Greece. Suggestions for conservation and management of F. angustifolia are also reported.

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Acknowledgments

This work was financially supported by FRAXIGEN (EVK2-CT-2001-00180), funded by FP5 of EU. The authors would like to thank Dionysios Gaitanis and Dimosthenis Mylonas for collecting plant material and field work.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratory of Biochemistry, Department of Chemistry, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124, Thessaloniki, Greece

    R. M. Papi & D. A. Kyriakidis

  2. Forestry Institute, National Agricultural Research Foundation, Loutra Thermis, Greece

    R. M. Papi & K. A. Spanos

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  1. R. M. Papi
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  2. K. A. Spanos
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  3. D. A. Kyriakidis
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Correspondence to D. A. Kyriakidis.

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Communicated by R. Matyssek.

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Papi, R.M., Spanos, K.A. & Kyriakidis, D.A. Genetic variation of Fraxinus angustifolia natural populations in Greece based on nuclear and chloroplast microsatellite markers. Eur J Forest Res 131, 1151–1161 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10342-011-0586-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10342-011-0586-1

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