Genetic Diversity and Differentiation of Pedunculate Oak (<i>Quercus robur</i> L.) Populations at the Southern Margin of Its Distribution Range—Implications for Conservation
Understanding intraspecific genetic variation is one of the principal requirements for the evaluation of tree species capacity to cope with intensive climatic changes, as well as designing long-term conservation programs. Herein, we evaluated the genetic diversity and genetic structure of seven pedu...
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MDPI AG
2021-08-01
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| author | Lazar Kesić Klára Cseke Saša Orlović Dejan B. Stojanović Saša Kostić Attila Benke Attila Borovics Srđan Stojnić Evangelia V. Avramidou |
| author_facet | Lazar Kesić Klára Cseke Saša Orlović Dejan B. Stojanović Saša Kostić Attila Benke Attila Borovics Srđan Stojnić Evangelia V. Avramidou |
| author_sort | Lazar Kesić |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Understanding intraspecific genetic variation is one of the principal requirements for the evaluation of tree species capacity to cope with intensive climatic changes, as well as designing long-term conservation programs. Herein, we evaluated the genetic diversity and genetic structure of seven pedunculate oak <i>(Quercus robur</i> L.) populations, located at the southern margin of its distribution range on the Balkan Peninsula (Serbia). The objective of the study was to propose future in situ conservation measures aimed at protection of pedunculate oak adaptive and neutral genetic diversity at the species rear-edge. Genetic diversity and structure were estimated using twelve highly polymorphic simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers. The mean expected heterozygosity (H<sub>e</sub>) was 0.769, allelic richness (A<sub>R</sub>) 9.63, and private allelic richness (p<sub>AR</sub>) 0.79, indicating high genetic diversity in the studied populations. Genetic differentiation among the populations was low (F<sub>st</sub> = 0.032). Structure analysis, the unweighted pair group method with arithmetic mean (UPGMA) showed the existence of two gene pools unrelated to the populations’ area of occurrence. Taking into consideration the results of the current study and previous conservation activities on the pedunculate oak in Serbia, as well as the importance of rear-edge populations in the long-term conservation of the species genetic diversity, we suggested establishing three additional gene conservation units for securing long-term sustainability of the species. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T08:52:22Z |
| format | Article |
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| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T08:52:22Z |
| publishDate | 2021-08-01 |
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| series | Diversity |
| spelling | doaj.art-24ded3afcbbe435ea59e4a931bc0c93a2023-11-22T07:22:11ZengMDPI AGDiversity1424-28182021-08-0113837110.3390/d13080371Genetic Diversity and Differentiation of Pedunculate Oak (<i>Quercus robur</i> L.) Populations at the Southern Margin of Its Distribution Range—Implications for ConservationLazar Kesić0Klára Cseke1Saša Orlović2Dejan B. Stojanović3Saša Kostić4Attila Benke5Attila Borovics6Srđan Stojnić7Evangelia V. Avramidou8Institute of Lowland Forestry and Environment, University of Novi Sad, Antona Čehova 13d, 21000 Novi Sad, SerbiaForest Research Institute, University of Sopron, Várkerület 30/A, 9600 Sárvár, HungaryInstitute of Lowland Forestry and Environment, University of Novi Sad, Antona Čehova 13d, 21000 Novi Sad, SerbiaInstitute of Lowland Forestry and Environment, University of Novi Sad, Antona Čehova 13d, 21000 Novi Sad, SerbiaInstitute of Lowland Forestry and Environment, University of Novi Sad, Antona Čehova 13d, 21000 Novi Sad, SerbiaForest Research Institute, University of Sopron, Várkerület 30/A, 9600 Sárvár, HungaryForest Research Institute, University of Sopron, Várkerület 30/A, 9600 Sárvár, HungaryInstitute of Lowland Forestry and Environment, University of Novi Sad, Antona Čehova 13d, 21000 Novi Sad, SerbiaHellenic Agricultural Organization “ELGO-DIMITRA”, Institute of Mediterranean and Forest Ecosystems, Terma Alkmanos, Ilisia, 11528 Athens, GreeceUnderstanding intraspecific genetic variation is one of the principal requirements for the evaluation of tree species capacity to cope with intensive climatic changes, as well as designing long-term conservation programs. Herein, we evaluated the genetic diversity and genetic structure of seven pedunculate oak <i>(Quercus robur</i> L.) populations, located at the southern margin of its distribution range on the Balkan Peninsula (Serbia). The objective of the study was to propose future in situ conservation measures aimed at protection of pedunculate oak adaptive and neutral genetic diversity at the species rear-edge. Genetic diversity and structure were estimated using twelve highly polymorphic simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers. The mean expected heterozygosity (H<sub>e</sub>) was 0.769, allelic richness (A<sub>R</sub>) 9.63, and private allelic richness (p<sub>AR</sub>) 0.79, indicating high genetic diversity in the studied populations. Genetic differentiation among the populations was low (F<sub>st</sub> = 0.032). Structure analysis, the unweighted pair group method with arithmetic mean (UPGMA) showed the existence of two gene pools unrelated to the populations’ area of occurrence. Taking into consideration the results of the current study and previous conservation activities on the pedunculate oak in Serbia, as well as the importance of rear-edge populations in the long-term conservation of the species genetic diversity, we suggested establishing three additional gene conservation units for securing long-term sustainability of the species.https://www.mdpi.com/1424-2818/13/8/371conservationgenetic diversitySSR markers<i>Quercus robur</i> |
| spellingShingle | Lazar Kesić Klára Cseke Saša Orlović Dejan B. Stojanović Saša Kostić Attila Benke Attila Borovics Srđan Stojnić Evangelia V. Avramidou Genetic Diversity and Differentiation of Pedunculate Oak (<i>Quercus robur</i> L.) Populations at the Southern Margin of Its Distribution Range—Implications for Conservation Diversity conservation genetic diversity SSR markers <i>Quercus robur</i> |
| title | Genetic Diversity and Differentiation of Pedunculate Oak (<i>Quercus robur</i> L.) Populations at the Southern Margin of Its Distribution Range—Implications for Conservation |
| title_full | Genetic Diversity and Differentiation of Pedunculate Oak (<i>Quercus robur</i> L.) Populations at the Southern Margin of Its Distribution Range—Implications for Conservation |
| title_fullStr | Genetic Diversity and Differentiation of Pedunculate Oak (<i>Quercus robur</i> L.) Populations at the Southern Margin of Its Distribution Range—Implications for Conservation |
| title_full_unstemmed | Genetic Diversity and Differentiation of Pedunculate Oak (<i>Quercus robur</i> L.) Populations at the Southern Margin of Its Distribution Range—Implications for Conservation |
| title_short | Genetic Diversity and Differentiation of Pedunculate Oak (<i>Quercus robur</i> L.) Populations at the Southern Margin of Its Distribution Range—Implications for Conservation |
| title_sort | genetic diversity and differentiation of pedunculate oak i quercus robur i l populations at the southern margin of its distribution range implications for conservation |
| topic | conservation genetic diversity SSR markers <i>Quercus robur</i> |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1424-2818/13/8/371 |
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