Chloroplast DNA variation of Betula humilis Schrk. in Poland and Belarus

• DOI: 10.1007/s11295-012-0482-y
• Publication Date: 2012-03-13T08:55:38Z
• Authors: Katarzyna A. Jadw...; Agata Banaszek; Ewa Jabłońska; Oleg V. Sozinov
• Keywords: Refugium (fishkeeping); Betula pendula; Betula pubescens

Betula humilis is an endangered plant species in Central Europe. In order to protect this species, it necessary document its genetic diversity region and identify areas for conservation prioritisation. As molecular investigations conducted throughout the ranges of many have shown that highest diversities are found within former glacial refugia and/or contact zones different phylogenetic lineages, we investigated reasons underlying considerable variation B. northeastern Poland revealed previously using nuclear microsatellites. We analysed 365 individuals from 19 populations 67 specimens pendula pubescens sampled four geographical regions Belarus polymorphism chloroplast PCR-restriction fragment length markers. Genetic data strongly suggested could survived Last Glacial Maximum at higher latitudes, but hypothesis a refugium southeastern was rejected. Chloroplast DNA analysis confirmed high some Poland. This phenomenon can likely be explained terms suture zone, as haplotypic richness followed by h T ≤ v T. Similar patterns haplotype distributions birches under study introgression ratio (IG = 0.71) among congeneric trees postglacial recolonisation shrub birch complicated sharing with other birches.