Variabilità genetica in popolazioni piemontesi di quercia

Genetic erosion is one of the most serious problems which threaten the survival of forest ecosystems all over the world. A large genetic variability is essential to guarantee a good adaptability to populations, as the forest ones, consisting of individuals with very long life-cycle and unable to move to more favourable sites. In order to apply any program aimed at bio-diversity preservation, it is essential to deep the knowledge on amount, structure and distribution of existing genetic variability. A research project has been carried out at the University of Turin (DI.VA.P.R.A.), aimed at studying the genetic variability of several forest species (among which several species belonging to the genus Quercus), by means of allozyme variation. The aim of the research is also the identification of the most valuable stands for production of high quality seed: it is well-known that high levels of genetic variation and heterozygosity of populations are associated with adaptative ability and therefore with survival capacity of the populations.