Haplotype variation in a mitochondrial tandem repeat of Norway spruce (Picea abies) populations suggests a serious founder effect during postglacial re‐colonization of the western Alps

Abstract

Populations from 13 elevational transects of Norway spruce [Picea abies (L.) Karst] across the Alpine range were sampled to elucidate the geographical pattern of genetic variation in relation to postglacial re-colonization and to study elevational effects on haplotypic diversity. We assessed fragment length variation in a tandem repeat region of the mitochondrial (mt) nad1 intron 2. This maternally inherited genetic marker is suited to infer migration as it is dispersed by seed only. A total of 10 haplotypes was found, most of which were due to repeat copy number variation. An analysis of molecular variance (amova) showed that overall population differentiation was high (F(ST)=0.41), and it revealed a significant differentiation between monomorphic western and moderately to highly variable eastern Alpine populations. This phylogeographic pattern may be explained by a founder effect during postglacial re-colonization. An early arriving haplotype, assumed to originate from a western Carpathian refugium, could expand into suitable habitats, reducing the chances for establishment of subsequently arriving haplotypes. On the other hand, the high variation in populations within an Italian transect of the south-eastern Alps may be the consequence of merging migration pathways from and close distance to putative glacial refugia, most likely those assumed in the Carpathian mountains and on the Balkan peninsula or possibly in the central plains of Italy. An effect of elevation on haplotypic diversity was not evident, though a low, but significant, partition of total genetic variation was attributed to among-population variation in one Italian transect. Various factors, such as vertical seed dispersal and forest management, may account for blurring an otherwise established pattern of genetic variation on a small geographical scale.

Genetic variability and health of Norway spruce stands in the Regional Directorate of the State Forests in Krosno

“…The mitochondrial DNA markers (STS) were used for Pinus sylvestris and P. abies (Sperisen et al 2001;Nowakowska 2007). Mitochondrial genes are often helpful in exploring the pathways of post-glacial migration of fauna and flora (Gugerli et al, 2001;Naydenov et al 2007;Pyhajarvi et al 2008;Dering, lewandowski , litkowiec et al 2009). …”

“…The mitochondrial spruce DNA haplotypes were evaluated on the basis of amplification of the nad1 gene fragment according to Sperisen et al (2001). Amplification products were analysed on the basis of Bioanalyser®, according to the manufacturer›s recommendations, using DNA-1000 chips and classified according to the size of alleles 'a', 'b', 'c' and 'd' as described by Sperisen et al (2001).…”

“…Amplification products were analysed on the basis of Bioanalyser®, according to the manufacturer›s recommendations, using DNA-1000 chips and classified according to the size of alleles 'a', 'b', 'c' and 'd' as described by Sperisen et al (2001). Haplotypes that had a different allele size than that showed by Sperisen et al (2001) were described by the code 'a 1 ' -for the allele of 350 base pair (bp) -and 'd 1 ' for 280 bp.…”

Population genetics of Norway spruce (Picea abiesKarst.) at regional scale: sensitivity of different microsatellite motif classes in detecting differentiation

“…Studies based on molecular markers with low allelic diversity (isozymes [15]; SCARs [25]) generally show an average among-population F ST close to 5%. This does not apply, however, to maternally-inherited (mitochondrial) markers, which on the contrary can detect high levels of differentiation [9,27], due to limited seed dispersal and consequently increased population structuring. For biparentally or paternally inherited loci, trends of differentiation or clines of allele frequencies are hardly detectable, so that it is generally hard to make phylogeographic inferences based on molecular marker data.…”

Short Note: Development of Mitochondrial Markers for Population Genetics of Norway Spruce [Picea abies (L.) Karst.]

“…Among gymnosperms, mitochondria are inherited predominantly from the female parent in the Pinaceae and probably in the Taxaceae, but in four other coniferous families mitochondrial inheritance appears to be predominantly paternal (NEALE et al, 1989;MOGENSEN, 1996). This differential mode of inheritance makes organellar genomes an ideal tool for studies of gene flow and population structures (MITTON et al, 2000;GUGERLI et al, 2001). From the geographic distribution of variation in the organellar DNA it is possible to draw conclusions about past gene flow through migration.…”