Oreshkova. The use of microsatellite loci in the population and genetic analysis of <em>Larix</em> species. In: The East Asian Flora: and its role in the formation of the world’s vegetation

The use of microsatellite loci in the population and genetic analysis of Larix species

Nataliya ORESHKOVA
Sukachev Institute of Forest SB RAS, Krasnoyarsk, Russia

Genetic diversity of SSR-markers was studied in six populations of Siberian larch (Larix sibirica Ledeb.), two populations of Gmelin's larch (Larix gmelinii (Rupr.) Rupr.) and four populations of Cajander's larch (Larix cajanderi Mayr). Seven pairs of nuclear microsatellite loci were used for this analysis (bcLK056, bcLK066, bcLK224, bcLK260, bcLK235, UBCLXtet-1-22, UAKLly6) (Khasa et al. 2000, Isoda & Watanabe 2006, Chen et al. 2009). Loci bcLK056, bcLK235, bcLK260 and UAKLly6 were highly polymorphic (15-24 alleles), loci bcLK066, bcLK224 and UBCLXtet_1-22) were less polymorphic (6-8 alleles). There were 103 allelic variants detected in 365 individuals of three species of larch. L. cajanderi populations from Kamchatka Territory that are characterized by lower microsatellite diversity (HO=0,360, HE=0,562) compared to L. sibirica (HO=0,447, HE=0,632) and L. gmelinii (HO=0,362, HE=0,697). This is, evidently due to history of distribution, isolation and the specific climatic conditions of growth of the species in this region. According to the AMOVA results, the variability proportion characterizing the differences between three Larix species was twice as high (15 %) than that accounting for among-population differences within the species (6%). Differentiation of the populations of three species of larch based on SSR-markers exceeded 12% (FST=0,121). Significant correlation of the genetic distances with the geographic distances between populations was found (r = 0,835, P < 0,01).