Genetic structure of<i>Acer platanoides</i>and<i>Betula pendula</i>in northern Europe

Abstract

Marker variation was measured in 12 Acer platanoides L. and 9 Betula pendula Roth populations using 11 and 18 allozyme loci, respectively. Both species grow in the boreal–temperate zone. Insect-pollinated A. platanoides with limited seed dispersal has a scattered occurrence, while wind-pollinated B. pendula with light wind-dispersed seeds has a more continuous distribution. The average expected heterozygosity was 0.132 for A. platanoides and 0.141 for B. pendula. Genetic differentiation among A. platanoides populations (F st = 0.099) was higher than that of B. pendula (F st = 0.032). Expected heterozygosities in marginal and central populations of A. platanoides were at approximately the same level. Contrary to the expectation, differentiation was higher among central populations.