Krystyna Boratyńska

Genetic variation of Pinus uncinata (Pinaceae) in the Pyrenees determined with cpSSR markers

The genetic variation within and between 13 populations (385 individuals) of Pinus uncinata was analyzed with ten chloroplast microsatellite markers. Both the infinite allele mutation and stepwise mutation model (SMM) have been applied to the analysis of the genetic structure and the geographical distribution of haplotypic variation. High level of genetic diversity and low but significant differentiation among compared population were found. Three marginal populations, Sierra de Cebollera, Margaride Mountains and Sierra de Gúdar are strongly differentiated from the rest. Mutations following SMM-like process contributed significantly to the regional differentiation. The pattern of genetic structure observed in mountain pine is common in conifers with a wide distribution range. Lack of significant genetic structuring may be a result of a recent fragmentation of a historically larger population and/or interspecific hybridization and introgression. The southernmost populations from the Sierra Cebollera and the Sierra de Gúdar are the most genetically distinct. This suggests a long period of spatial isolation and/or origin from different ancestral populations.

Pinus uncinata Ramond taxonomy based on needle characters

Abstract. 11 needle characters of Pinus uncinata Ramond from the Spanish Pyrenees, P. mugo Turra from the Tatra Mountains, and P. sylvestris L. from N.E. Poland were analysed. It was shown that P. uncinata is much more closely related to P. mugo than to P. sylvestris. Nevertheless P. uncinata remains distinct from both in a number of the characters examined. The species differs from P. mugo especially in the length of the needles and in the distance between the vascular bundles. It differs from P. sylvestris in such characters as the number of resin canals, thickness of epidermis cells and the distance between the vascular bundles. Width of epidermis cells was similar in all taxa studied.

High level of genetic differentiation of Juniperus phoenicea (Cupressaceae) in the Mediterranean region: geographic implications

Fourteen natural populations of Juniperus phoenicea L. from the quite entire species range have been compared using isoenzyme polymorphism. Among 17 loci, 5 (Got1, 6Pgd3, Pgi2, Pgm2 and Shdh2) appeared to be differentiated sufficiently to provide useful information for discrimination between the subspecies phoenicea and turbinata (Guss.) Nyman. Two distinct groups of populations were detected using the Nei’s genetic distance unweighted pair group method with arithmetic mean (UPGMA) and discrimination analyses, one including the inland populations of the eastern Iberian Peninsula and southern France (subsp. phoenicea), and the second from the Mediterranean and Atlantic shores, and from the Atlas mountains in Africa (subsp. turbinata). The high level of differences confirms a long period of isolation, probably during the whole Pleistocene. The population from the Aegean Sea shore differed from the other Mediterranean shore plus Atlas mountain population. It also suggests spatial isolation between them, at least during the last Glaciation.

Evidence of the possibility of natural reciprocal crosses between Pinus sylvestris and P. uliginosa based on the phenology of reproductive organs

Summary Phenological observations of development of generative organs of Pinus sylvestris and P. uliginosa (= P. rotundata ) were carried out in spring of 1999, 2000 and 2001. The aim of the research was to verify the hypothesis that both taxa have a possibility of reciprocal crossing. Two populations of P. uliginosa were tested, one on the Silesian Lowland (Wegliniec) (altitude of 180m), the other in the Stolowe mountains (Batorow) (at altitude of 750 m). The lowland population of P. uliginosa is not numerous and surrounded by extensive P. sylvestris forests, the mountain one is 3 times more numerous, and the nearest population of P.sylvestris is at a distance of 2 km. Observations in the field were carried out twice a week during the period of development of micro- and macro-strobili of both taxa. The results show that the P. sylvestris strobili developed every year earlier than those of P. uliginosa . Nevertheless, this did not eliminate the possibility of cross pollination and gene flow from P. sylvestris toward P. uliginosa on both localities of the last species. The possibility of pollination of P. sylvestris macrostrobili by P. uliginosa pollen was found also possible, but more restricted. Normally, on lowlands the same phenological phases take place about 10 days earlier than in the mountains. This is documented for two years of observations of more or less typical whether conditions. An earlier development of micro- and macrostrobili of both species in their mountain populations was observed in an observation year characterized by an extremely early and warm spring.

Population genetic structure of Juniperus phoenicea (Cupressaceae) in the western Mediterranean Basin: gradient of diversity on a broad geographical scale

Abstract• Introduction, Material and MethodsThe genetic structure and diversity of ten natural populations of Juniperus phoenicea L. from the western part of the species range have been studied using random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) markers.• Results and discussionAmong 10 analyzed primers only 3 reproduced consistently across successful PCR reactions and gave 45 loci. The percentage of polymorphic loci (P) and Nei’s heterozygosity (He) have average values of 64.9% and 0.177. The average expected heterozygosity of particular populations positively correlate with latitude and negatively with altitude (τ = 0.556, P = 0.025; τ = −0.494, P = 0.047, respectively). The proportion of genetic variation contributed by the differences between populations was low (GST  = 0.056). The gene flow (Nm) has an average value of 4.2, and was higher in subsp. turbinata (7.3) than in subsp. phoenicea (4.1). Significant proportion of the variation (ΦST = 0.106) was attributable to differences among populations, as revealed in analysis of molecular variance analysis of pair-wise RAPD distances. No evidence for isolation by distance was detected in Mantel test on genetic (ΦST) and geographic distances. European populations differed at a higher level from the African, subsp. phoenicea from turbinata (3.97% and 3.14% of total variance, respectively). The significant level of differences between European and African populations can result from (1) the earlier divergence and considerably low level of gene flow between them, or (2) a different mutation rate within population of different continent.• ConclusionThe results suggest rather local forest economy with J. phoenicea, without seed exchange on large distance.

Morphological versus molecular markers to describe variability in Juniperus excelsa subsp. excelsa (Cupressaceae)

This is a large scale investigation of morphological diversity in Juniperus excelsa excelsa. It offers complementary results to those obtained for the same populations using molecular markers. These two approaches are complementary and should be considered together in order to obtain a comprehensive view of the variability of J. excelsa excelsa.

Relationships among Cedrus libani, C. brevifolia and C. atlantica as revealed by the morphological and anatomical needle characters

The main aim of the present study was testing the value of the morphological and anatomical characteristics of the needles in distinguishing Cedrus atlantica, C. libani and C. brevifolia. Nine populations were sampled in their natural habit and 25 characters were used to describe the variation of the brachyblast needles and to analyze the differences between species. The results indicated that morphological and anatomical needle characters provide valuable tools in discrimination of the taxa. The scored differences were statistically significant, as revealed in the Tukey’s t test, discrimination analysis and hierarchical analysis of variation. The results support treating C. libani, C. atlantica and C. brevifolia as independent species.

Morphological differentiation supports the genetic pattern of the geographic structure of Juniperus thurifera (Cupressaceae)

Juniperus thurifera is an important component of woodland communities of dry sites within the West Mediterranean region and is characterised by a strongly disjunctive geographic range. Two subspecies were recognised, subsp. thurifera in Europe and subsp. africana in Africa. The aim of the study was the comparison of phenetic diversity to the pattern of AFLP geographic differentiation of the species described in the literature. The examination of phenetic diversity was based on the biometrical analysis of 17 populations using 12 morphological characters of cone and seed. The differences among populations were analysed using Student’s t test, analysis of discrimination, UPGMA agglomeration and hierarchical analysis of variance. The majority of morphological characters differentiated at a statistically significant level between populations and between J. thurifera subsp. thurifera and subsp. africana. Three groups of populations were detected using multivariate statistical analyses. The first, well separated, is subsp. africana, while the following two concern subsp. thurifera. The morphological differentiation of populations appeared similar to that described on the AFLP. The Gibraltar Straight appeared to be the most important barrier.

Morphological diversity and structure of West Mediterranean Abies species

The aim of this study was the biometrical comparison of Abies pinsapo Boiss., Abies maroccana Trab. and Abies tazaotana Côzar ex Villar from Spain and Morocco. The morphological and anatomical analysis of the needle characters of these firs revealed significant taxonomic differences. The results showed considerable distances between regions and very small differences among the Moroccan fir taxa. The examination of the needles and earlier genetic analysis did not provide evidence for distinguishing A. tazaotana at the species level.

Taxonomic and geographic differentiation of Pinus mugo complex on the needle characteristics

The phenotypic differentiation of Pinus mugo complex was verified using 31 populations of P. mugo sensu stricto, 11 of P. uncinata, five of P. uliginosa, one of the potential hybrids P. uliginosa × P. mugo and three of P. sylvestris, the latter as a control. The 22 morphological and anatomical needle characteristics were measured and statistically examined to describe the taxa and the population within the taxa differentiation. All the taxa of the P. mugo complex differed significantly from P. sylvestris in most of the verified needle characteristics. Within P. mugo complex, populations of P. uncinata were clearly distinguished from P. mugo s. s. The population of potential hybrid origin was the most similar to P. uliginosa. Populations of the latter taxon were strongly differentiated; some of them were closer to P. uncinata, and others to P. mugo s. s. Within the whole sampled data, three geographic groups of populations were detected: the first included P. uncinata and two of P. uliginosa, the second contained East and South Carpathian P. mugo s. s. with the presumed hybrid population, and the third contained all the other populations of P. mugo s. s. and P. uliginosa. Within P. mugo s. s., the Sudetan populations formed a separate group. Pinus uncinata from the Pyrenees reflected a high level of differentiation. The marginal populations of this taxon (Cebollera, Gúdar, Massif Central) also differed from those in the Pyrenees. The phenotypic differentiation of taxa and populations appeared similar to that which was detected based on cpDNA markers.