Genome size and base composition of seven Quercus species: inter- and intra-population variation

Abstract

Seven Quercus species, four deciduous (Q. cerris, Q. petraea, Q. pubescens, andQ. robur) and three evergreen (Q. coccifera, Q. ilex, andQ. suber), were assessed for DNA content. Their genome sizes ranged from 1.88 to 2.00 pg/2C, namely an interspecific DNA content variation of 6%. In addition, the DNA content of several populations of Q. petraea andQ. robur with different geographical origins, French and Croatian, was estimated. DNA content did not vary among four populations of Q. robur, but did differ between two populations of Q. petraea, the French population having a higher 2C DNA value than the Croatian. The genome size of this French population showed important dispersion among 10 measured individuals. This was in accordance with subsequent cytogenetic data that revealed extra chromosomes in some individuals from this population. The percent GC varied little between the species; a GC content of 39.9% is established as typical for oak.Key words: Quercus, flow cytometry, genome size, GC percent, DNA content variations, extra chromosomes.