Genetic resources and Regions of Provenance for European larch in Italy. European larch (Larix decidua Mill.) is one of the most widespread conifer tree in Italy, where it is naturally present only in the Alps. The present distribution of the species is however strongly influenced by human activities: in the past its presence was usually promoted due both to technological quality of timber and the possibility to allow pasture in the stands. In Italy at present there are 19 populations from which it is possible to collect seeds. Although the species is not threatened with extinction, preservation of genetic resources appears to be an important goal to pursue. 26 populations sampled over the entire Italian range of the species were analysed for genetic variation at 9 nuclear microsatellite loci. High levels of intra-population variability were scored, while only about 4% of the total genetic diversity occurred among them. It was possible to score two groups slightly different from a genetic point of view: the first includes populations from western and central Alps and the second populations from eastern Alps. Finally, the ecological characteristics of the sampling sites were analysed and patterns of genetic and ecological variations were compared, allowing us to identify 4 areas that are both ecologically and genetically homogeneous and that are proposed as Regions of Provenance for European larch in Italy.
Regioni di Provenienza per il larice
FERRAZZINI, DIANA;BELLETTI, Piero
2015-01-01
Abstract
Genetic resources and Regions of Provenance for European larch in Italy. European larch (Larix decidua Mill.) is one of the most widespread conifer tree in Italy, where it is naturally present only in the Alps. The present distribution of the species is however strongly influenced by human activities: in the past its presence was usually promoted due both to technological quality of timber and the possibility to allow pasture in the stands. In Italy at present there are 19 populations from which it is possible to collect seeds. Although the species is not threatened with extinction, preservation of genetic resources appears to be an important goal to pursue. 26 populations sampled over the entire Italian range of the species were analysed for genetic variation at 9 nuclear microsatellite loci. High levels of intra-population variability were scored, while only about 4% of the total genetic diversity occurred among them. It was possible to score two groups slightly different from a genetic point of view: the first includes populations from western and central Alps and the second populations from eastern Alps. Finally, the ecological characteristics of the sampling sites were analysed and patterns of genetic and ecological variations were compared, allowing us to identify 4 areas that are both ecologically and genetically homogeneous and that are proposed as Regions of Provenance for European larch in Italy.
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