Genetic structure of English yew ( Taxus baccata L.) in the Wierzchlas Reserve: implications for genetic conservation

• Published in: Forest ecology and management Vol. 73; no. 1; pp. 221 - 227
• Main Authors: Lewandowski, A., Burczyk, J., Mejnartowicz, L.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Amsterdam Elsevier B.V 01-05-1995; Elsevier
• Subjects: Agronomy. Soil science and plant productions; ALLOZYME; ALLOZYMES; ALOZIMAS; Biological and medical sciences; Classical and quantitative genetics. Population genetics. Molecular genetics; CONSERVACION DE LOS RECURSOS; Conservation; CONSERVATION DES RESSOURCES; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Generalities. Genetics. Plant material; GENETIC RESOURCES; GENETIC VARIATION; Genetics and breeding of economic plants; Mating pattern; POLAND; POLOGNE; POLONIA; Population genetics; RECURSOS GENETICOS; RESOURCE CONSERVATION; RESSOURCE GENETIQUE; TAXUS BACCATA; Taxus baccata L; VARIACION GENETICA; VARIATION GENETIQUE; Poland; Europe; Taxus baccata L; Genetic variation; Conservation; Allozymes; Mating pattern; Heterozygozity; Genetic variability; Genetic marker; Enzyme; Genetic resource; Reproductive pattern; Gene pool; Allozyme; Population genetics; Genetic improvement; Softwood forest tree; Gymnospermae; Nature reserve; Taxus baccata; Coniferales; Spermatophyta
• ISSN: 0378-1127; 1872-7042
• DOI: 10.1016/0378-1127(94)03477-E

Genetic structure and mating patterns were studied in
Taxus baccata L. in the Wierzchlas Reserve in Poland, using 18 allozyme loci as genetic markers. The population exhibited high levels of genetic variation, with expected heterozygosity estimated for all loci equal to 0.279. The effective number of alleles was 1.37, and 61.11% of loci were polymorphic. Expected heterozygosity calculated for polymorphic loci only was as large as 0.419. The level of inbreeding as measured by Wright's fixation index was generally low for parental trees. However, in progeny population an excess of homozygotes was observed compared with the Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium (
F=+0.049), which may be attributed to mating between relatives (biparental inbreeding). The effective population size calculated for both male and female trees was considerable and accounted for about 56 individuals. Allele frequencies in the pollen pool successful in fertilizing viable embryos were, in general, spatially homogeneous across the sampled trees. Considering the high genetic diversity and relatively large population size, the Wierzchlas Reserve represents a valuable gene pool for reforestation of
Taxus baccata.