The state of gene pool of the basic forest-forming species of the white sea watershed (on the example of a Picea × fennica (Regel) kom. And Pinus sylvestris L.)

Abstract

Background. The genetic diversity of forest tree species populations is a key factor contributing to their resistance against negative effects of human activity, and the global climate change. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the state of gene pools of the main forest-forming species in the White Sea watershed.
 Materials and methods. Five populations of Norway spruce and seven populations of Scotch pine have been selected within the Arctic zone of the European part of Russia (the western part of the White Sea watershed), along with two boundary ones located near the northern borders of the abovementioned species areas. The analysis of the spruce samples had been performed using five nuclear SSR loci, while for the pine samples it was four. DNA fragments were separated on a sequencer CEQ 8000. The main criteria of the genetic diversity (A99%, Ho, He) and F-statistics were calculated.
 Results. The marginal spruce populations were characterized by the largest magnitude of the genetic diversity (Ho = 0.46; He = 0.47) and isolation (FST = 0.33) compared to other populations of the same species. The differences were statistically significant. All pine populations studied demonstrated a higher level of genetic diversity (Ho = 0.50, He = 0.63) compared to spruce populations. The differences between the boundary and in-area populations were not statistically reliable (FST = 0.04).
 Conclusion. Our investigation revealed a sufficiently high level of spruce and pine northern populations genetic diversity making them able to withstand expected negative effects of anthropogenic activity and global climate change.