Genetic diversity of beech in Greece

<p>Beech covers a broad range of mountains in central and northern Greece. The diversity of the species in leaf morphology and cpDNA patterns is presented in this study, using a representative sample of 40 populations. Leaf morphology is strongly influenced by environmental factors. Most of the cpDNA variation was distributed among populations, but a considerable variation was also observed within populations. The total diversity was very high for all regions. While there was an indication for phylogenetic subdivision, no strong spatial structure was detected suggesting complex postglacial migration patterns. Possible scenarios explaining this diversity pattern include the existence of several separated refugia in the region, the recolonization of mountains from different beech lineages and the formation of an introgression zone between two different beech subspecies in the eastern part of the country. Furthermore, diversity studies in two specific mountain regions confirm these scenarios and reveal the complex migration routes of different beech lineages.</p> <p> </p> <p>Presentation at a COST Action E52 Working Group meeting, "Evaluation of the Genetic Resources of Beech for Sustainable Forestry", Thessaloniki / Greece, May 5th-7th, 2009.</p

Refugia and postglacial movement of beech in Greece

<p>Beech has a broad European expansion and builds its southern most populations in Greece. Three polymorphic cpDNA microsatellite primers were used to describe the variation patterns of this tree in 40 populations. As many as 13 haplotypes were identified. Most of the variation was distributed among populations, but a considerable variation was also observed within some populations. No strong spatial structure was detected suggesting complex postglacial migration patterns. Possible explanations include the existence of several separated refugia in the region, the recolonization of mountains from different beech lineages and the formation of an introgression zone between two different beech subspecies in the broader area of Rodopi.</p> <p> </p> <p>This paper describes a presentation done at at the International Conference “Hot Spots of Ancient and Present genetic Diversity”, 17 - 20 June 2009, Sofia Bulgaria</p

Taxonomic and molecular characterization of 15 wild-growing tulip species of Greece using the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) nuclear marker in combination with the <i>psb</i>A-<i>trn</i>H and <i>trn</i>L/<i>trn</i>F plastid markers

Due to the absence or scarcity of DNA sequence data in GenBank regarding Mediterranean, Balkan or Greek native tulip species, we performed molecular characterization of the 15 wild-growing Greek tulip species through analysis of the internal transcribed spacer nrDNA and the psbA/trnH and trnL/trnF cpDNA regions. To facilitate conservation and sustainable utilization efforts, the aim was to identify and complement the genetic distinctiveness of six Greek endemic and five Balkan or Aegean endemic and/or subendemic wild-growing Greek native tulips and two naturalized ones of Asiatic origin, among which seven are threatened with extinction. Molecular phylogenetic analysis of 148 DNA sequences was conducted, and 85 Tulipa taxa (species and subspecies) were aligned and compared to 40 new DNA sequences generated herein for the 15 wild-growing Greek tulips. These three molecular markers resulted in 354 single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and 20 distinct indels for all Tulipa taxa, of which 100 SNPs and 12 indels were related to the Greek tulips. Phylogenetic dendrograms were constructed for all the above-mentioned molecular markers, and the DNA sequences were analyzed separately and jointly, leading to three distinct clusters for the 15 wild-growing Greek tulips. Group 1 included Greek members of subgenus Tulipa, that is, T. scardica, T. undulatifolia, T. rhodopea, T. agenensis and T. raddii; Group 2 included only T. clusiana (subgenus Clusianae) and Group 3 included Greek members of subgenus Eriostemones, that is, *T. bakeri, T. saxatilis, T. australis, *T. cretica, *T. goulimyi, *T. orphanidea T. bithynica, *T. hageri and *T. doerfleri (asterisks indicate single-country endemics).</p

Patterns of cpDNA diversity within a beech refugial area

<p>This study aims at the description of beech postglacial movement within a mountain. The selected mountain Paggeo is isolated, while beech forms an altitudinal continuum for more than 1000m. Previous genetic studies have indicated the possible presence of a glacial refugium in the broader region. Seven sub-populations were sampled, in order to describe the structure of this refugial population. Three cpDNA microsatellite primer pairs were used. A high variety of haplotypes and a significant differentiation among sub-populations was detected. The results indicate that besides the refugial lineage on the north side of the mountain, two additional beech lineages have arrived from other refugia and occupied specific locations.</p> <p> </p> <p>Poster presented at the International Conference “Hot Spots of Ancient and Present genetic Diversity”, 17 - 20 June 2009, Sofia Bulgaria</p

Complex fine-scale phylogeographic patterns in a putative refugial region of Fagus sylvatica L. (Fagaceae)

<p>This manuscript was accepted for publication at the Botanical Journal of the Linean Society on December 27, 2013.</p> <p>Broad scale chloroplast DNA (cpDNA) studies of beech (<em>Fagus sylvatica</em> L.) populations suggested the existence of glacial refugia and introgression zones in the south-eastern part of Europe. We choose a possible refugium of beech in northern Greece, Mt. Paggeo, which hosts a private cpDNA haplotype for beech, to conduct a fine-scale genetic study. We attempt to confirm or reject the hypothesis of the existence of a small scale refugium and gain understanding of the ecological and topographical factors affecting the spatial distribution of cpDNA haplotypes in the area. Our results reveal a high haplotype diversity in Mt. Paggeo, while the overall distribution of haplotypes show no significant correlation with the ecological characteristics of the beech forests. However, the private haplotype is found in high frequencies in beech forests located within or near ravines having a high spatial overlap with a relict vegetation type, occurring in ecological conditions found mainly within ravines. This result emphasises the importance of topography in the existence of glacial refugia in the wider area. Furthermore, haplotypes originating from two more widespread beech lineages in Greece are found on Mt. Paggeo, indicating a possible mixing of populations originating from a local refugium with populations from different remote refugia that possibly migrated in the area after the last glaciation.</p