Allozyme and chioroplast DNA variation in Italian and Greek populations of Pinus leuco dermis

Oxford

1994

284-290

Sonderdruck

12419S

203615

Allozyme and chioroplast (cpDNA) variation was examined in five Italian and two Greek populations of Pinus teucodermis Ant. to estimate levels of genetic variability within and among populations and to establish the usefulness of allozyme and cpDNA markers in the taxonomic classification of these populations. Twenty-three isozyme gene loci were analysed, as well as restriction fragment length polymorphisms at two cpDNA spacer regions between tRNA genes. The level of genetic variability tended to be lower in the Greek populations but overall the observed levels of allozyme variation within and among populations were similar to those of other conifers. Identical cpDNA amplification and restriction patterns were observed among all individuals sampled from the seven populations. Taken together, the results of the allozyme and cpDNA analyses indicate that all seven populations belong to the same biological species.Keywords: allozymes, chloroplast DNA, genetic variability, Pinus leucodermis.