The impact of over-exploitation on the genetic structure of Turkish red pine (Pinus brutia Ten.) populations determined by RAPD markers

Abstract

tion on the genetic structure of Turkish red pine (Pinus brutia Ten.) populations determined by RAPD markers. Silva Fennica 41(2): 211-220. To determine the possible impact of over-exploitation on the genetic structure of Turkish red pine (Pinus brutia Ten.) populations, three natural and three over-exploited (human degraded) populations of the species in the Mediterranean region of Turkey were investigated with Randomly Amplified Polymorphic DNA (RAPD). With the 80 RAPD primers tested, 12 of them yielded 137 polymorphic RAPD fragments. Four of the studied populations maintained unique fragments. The mean proportion of polymorphic fragments for all populations ranged from 89.8 to 98.9% and there were no significant differences between natural (94.8%) vs. over-exploited populations (92.7%). The estimated heterozygosity values suggested that Turkish red pine maintains high levels of genetic diversity (range 0.24-0.28) though studied populations and grouped ones as natural (H e = 0.28) vs. over-exploited (0.27) did not differ significantly. The mean F ST value indicated that the large portion of the total genetic diversity was within populations (93%), but this value was lower in the natural populations (92%) than in the over-exploited ones (94%). In over-exploited populations, excess of homozygosity was observed (about 6% higher) as compared to natural populations, indicating impacts of inbreeding in P. brutia.

Genetic Comparison of Pinus brutia Ten. Populations from Different Elevations by RAPD Markers

“…Overall heterozygosity (H t = 0.40) and overall heterozygosity within populations (H s = 0.40) is compatible with other studies on P. brutia (Icgen et al, 2006;Lise et al, 2007;Kandemir et al, 2004). However, genetic differentiation coefficient (Gst) values were between 1% and 5% in this study, while G ST ranged from 7% to 35% in previously reported RAPD studies on P. brutia (Icgen et al, 2006;Lise et al, 2007;Kandemir et al, 2004;Velioglu et al, 2002).…”

“…However, genetic differentiation coefficient (Gst) values were between 1% and 5% in this study, while G ST ranged from 7% to 35% in previously reported RAPD studies on P. brutia (Icgen et al, 2006;Lise et al, 2007;Kandemir et al, 2004;Velioglu et al, 2002). The high differentiation rate of those studies could be explained by various reasons; such as using seed stands, seed orchards and/or plantations which are geographically isolated and established far away from each other, low pollination mechanism between seed stands and/or seed orchards, mating system of species, and low seed distribution range and low level of gene flow between seed stands and seed orchards (Kang et al, 2001).…”

“…Tolun et al (2000) estimated total average heterozygosity (H t ) as 0.227 for Pinus nigra populations sampled from the Bolkar Mountains. Nei's (1987) gene diversity, Shannon's information index and mean proportion of polymorphic loci were relatively higher than previously reported RAPD studies on P. brutia (Icgen et al, 2006;Lise et al, 2007;Kandemir et al, 2004;Velioglu et al, 2002). This high level of genetic diversity may be due to the broad altitudinal range of the samples included in the study.…”

“…Genetic diversity parameters for the studied populations. [Estimated mean number of observed alleles (N a ), mean number of effective alleles (N e ), Nei (1987) other P. brutia populations when measured by isozymes (Aravanopoulus et al, 2004;Conkle et al, 1988;Kara et al, 1997;Korol et al, 2002;Panetsos et al, 1998) or RAPD markers (Icgen et al, 2006;Lise et al, 2007;Kandemir et al, 2004). The genetic diversity parameters calculated in this study are similar in level to values obtained from isozyme and RAPD studies on P. brutia, and also to isozyme studies on other conifer species (Hamrick et al, 1992;Tolun et al 2000).…”

“…Prescreening of 34 random decamer primers revealed that nine primers (OPN-05, OPK-09, UBC-103, UBC-144, UBC-178, OPA-07, OPA-18, OPA-19 and OPP-10) could be useful for further study and data collection. 1995), and several genetic variation studies (Icgen et al, 2006;Lise et al, 2007;Kandemir et al, 2004;Kaya and Neale, 1993).…”