Batoul N. AL-HAWIJA, Viktoria WAGNER, Isabell HENSEN

Genetic comparison between natural and planted populations of Pinus brutia and Cupressus sempervirens in Syria

There is wide consensus that ongoing deforestation contributes to global warming and poses a threat to species diversity. Less understood is whether the practice of creating plantations might also erode genetic diversity and undermine the genetic structure of tree populations. We tested these hypotheses in natural and planted populations of Pinus brutia Ten. subsp. brutia and Cupressus sempervirens L. var. horizontalis (Mill.), 2 important forestry species in the Mediterranean region. We used plant material from 3 different bioclimatic regions in Syria. Using RAPD markers, we evaluated the genetic diversity and structure of 12 populations of P. brutia (6 natural, 6 planted) and 9 populations of C. sempervirens (3 natural, 6 planted). Expected heterozygosity (He) and percentage of polymorphic loci (PPL) were high in both species (P. brutia: He = 0.241, PPL = 81.2%; C. sempervirens: He = 0.241, PPL = 78.8%). In accordance with our assumptions, plantations of P. brutia manifested significant reduction in mean genetic diversity; this result, however, was not revealed in C. sempervirens. Analysis of molecular variance (AMOVA) demonstrated that the genetic structure of plantations differed from that of natural populations. Interestingly, plantations of both species harbored more genetic differentiation among them than natural populations. The partitions created by AMOVA also showed a significant differentiation between 2 groups, natural populations versus plantations in the 2 species, and among bioclimatic regions only in C. sempervirens. This result was corroborated by cluster analyses, which indicated a closer relationship among populations from the same geographic region. Genetic distance was positively related to geographic distance only in natural populations of P. brutia. Plantations in our research showed a significant reduction in genetic diversity, particularly in P. brutia, and stronger among-population genetic differentiation compared to natural populations. We recommend that forest management incorporates genetic diversity and differentiation as an important criterion for selecting appropriate tree stock material.

Anahtar Kelimeler:

Key words: Deforestation, genetic differentiation, genetic diversity, genetic structure, plantations, Syria

Genetic comparison between natural and planted populations of Pinus brutia and Cupressus sempervirens in Syria

Keywords:

Key words: Deforestation, genetic differentiation, genetic diversity, genetic structure, plantations, Syria,

PDF

___

Aldrich PR, Hamrick JL, Chavarriaga P, Kochert G (1998). Microsatellite analysis of demographic genetic structure in fragmented populations of the tropical tree Symphonia globulifera. Mol Ecol 7: 933–944.
Bagnoli F, Vendramin GG, Buonamici A, Doulis A, La Porta N, Magri D, Sebastiani F, Raddi P, Fineschi S (2009). Is Cupressus sempervirens native in Italy? An answer from genetic and palaeobotanical data. Mol Ecol 18 (10): 2276–2286.
Bergmann F, Ruetz W (1991). Isozyme genetic variation and heterozygosity in random tree samples and selected orchard clones from the same Norway spruce populations. For Ecol Manage 46: 39–47.
Bonan GB (2008). Forests and climate change: forcings, feedbacks, and the climate benefits of forests. Science 320: 1444–1449.
Boydak M (2004). Silvicultural characteristics and natural regeneration of Pinus brutia Ten. – a review. Plant Ecol 171: 153–163.
Chaisurisri K, El-Kassaby YA (1994). Genetic diversity in a seed production population vs. natural populations of Sitka Spruce. Biodiv Conserv 3: 512–523.
Changtragoon S, Finkeldey R (1995). Patterns of genetic variation and characterization of the mating system of Pinus merkusii in Thailand. Forest Genet 2: 87–97.
Chen XY, Li YY, Wu TY, Zhang X, Lu HP (2003). Size-class differences in genetic structure of Metasequoia glyptostroboides Hu et Cheng (Taxodiaceae) plantations in Shanghai. Silvae Genet 52: 107–109.
Choumane W, Breugel PV, Bazium TOM, Baum M, Ayad GW, Amaral W (2004). Genetic diversity of Pinus brutia in Syria as revealed by DNA markers. Forest Genet 11: 87–101.
Dayanandan S, Dole J, Bawa K, Kesseli R (1999). Population structure delineated with microsatellite markers in fragmented populations of a tropical tree, Carapa guianensis (Meliaceae). Mol Ecol 8: 1585–1592.
Díaz V, Muñiz LM, Ferrer E (2001). Random amplified polymorphic DNA and amplified fragment length polymorphism assessment of genetic variation in Nicaraguan populations of Pinus oocarpa. Mol Ecol 10: 2593–2603.
Edwards DGW, El-Kassaby YA (1996). The biology and management of coniferous forest seeds: genetic perspectives. Forest Chron 72: 481–484.
Godt MJW, Hamrick JL, Edwards-Burke MA, Williams JH (2001). Comparisons of genetic diversity in white spruce (Picea glauca) and jack pine (Pinus banksiana) seed orchards with natural populations. Can J Forest Res 31: 943–949.
Gömöry D (1992). Effect of stand origin on the genetic diversity of Norway spruce (Picea abies Karst.) populations. Forest Ecol Manag 54: 215–223.
Hamrick JL, Godt MJW (1989). Allozyme diversity in plant species. In: Brown AHD, Clegg MT, Kahler AL, Weir BS, editors. Plant Population Genetics, Breeding, and Genetic Resources. Sunderland, MA, USA: Sinauer Associates, pp. 43–63.
Hamrick JL, Godt MJW (1996). Effects of life history traits on genetic diversity in plant species. Phil Trans R Soc Lond B 351: 1291– 12
Hamrick JL, Godt MJW, Sherman-Broyles SL (1992). Factors influencing levels of genetic diversity in woody plant species. New Forest 6: 95–124.
Hamrick JL, Platt WJ, Hessing M (1993). Genetic variation in longleaf pine. In: Hermann SM, editor. Proceedings of the 18th Tall Timbers Fire Ecology Conference. The Longleaf Pine Ecosystem: Ecology Restoration and Management, 30 May–2 June 1991; Tallahassee FL, USA. Tallahassee, FL, USA: Tall Timbers Research Inc., pp. 193–203.
Huson DH, Bryant D (2006). Application of phylogenetic networks in evolutionary studies. Mol Biol Evol 23: 254–267.
İçgen Y, Kaya Z, Çengel B, Velioğlu E, Öztürk H, Önde S (2006). Potential impact of forest management and tree improvement on genetic diversity of Turkish red pine (Pinus brutia Ten.) plantations in Turkey. Forest Ecol Manag 225: 328–336.
Isik F, Isik K, Lee SJ (1999). Genetic variation in Pinus brutia Ten. in Turkey: I. Growth biomass and stem quality traits. Forest Genet 2: 89–99.
Jeandroz S, Collignon AM, Favre JM (2004). RAPD and mtDNA variation among autochthonous and planted populations of Picea abies from the Vosges Mountains (France) in reference to other French populations. For Ecol Manag 197: 225–229.
Kafton DF (1977). Isozyme variability and reproductive phenology of Monterey cypress. PhD, University of California, Berkeley, California.
Kandemir G, Kandemir I, Kaya Z (2004). The pattern of genetic variation in Turkish red pine (Pinus brutia Ten.) seed stands as determined by RAPD markers. Silvae Gene 53: 169–175.
Karhu A (2001). Evolution and Applications of Pine Microsatellites. Oulu, Finland: Oulu University Press.
Korol L, Kara N, Isik K, Schiller G (1997). Genetic differentiation among and within natural and planted Cupressus sempervirens L. eastern Mediterranean populations. Silvae Genet 46: 151– 1
Korshikov II, Ducci F, Terliga NS, Bichkov SS, Gorlova EM (2004). Allozyme variation of Pinus pallasiana D. Don in natural Crimean populations and in plantations in technogenously polluted areas of the Ukraine steppes. Ann For Sci 61: 389–396. Nahal I (1983). Le pin brutia (Pinus brutia Ten. subsp. brutia) Première partie. Forêt Méditerranéenne 5: 165–172.
Nahal I, Zahoueh S (2005). Syria. In: Merlo M, Croitoru L, editors. Valuing Mediterranean Forests: Towards Total Economic Value. Wallingford, UK/Cambridge, MA, USA: CABI International, pp. 177–194.
Nei M (1987). Molecular Evolutionary Genetics. New York: Columbia University Press.
Nybom H (2004). Comparison of different nuclear DNA markers for estimating intraspecific genetic diversity in plants. Mol Ecol 13: 1143–1155.
Nybom H, Bartisch I (2000). Effects of life history traits and sampling strategies on genetic diversity estimates obtained with RAPD markers in plants. Perspect Plant Ecol Evol Systemat 3: 93–114. Pak M, Türker MF, Öztürk A (2010). Total economic value of forest resources in Turkey. Afr J Agric Res 5: 1908–1916.
Pandey M, Gailing O, Leinemann L, Finkeldey R (2004). Molecular markers provide evidence for long-distance planting material transfer during plantation establishment of Dalbergia sissoo Roxb. in Nepal. Ann For Sci 61: 603–606.
Pandit MK, Sodhi NS, Koh LP, Bhaskar A, Brook BW (2007). Unreported yet massive deforestation driving loss of endemic biodiversity in Indian Himalaya. Biodiv Conserv 16: 153–163. Papageorgiou AC, Finkeldey R, Hattemer HH, Xenopoulos S (2005). Genetic differences between autochthonous and breeding populations of common cypress (Cupressus sempervirens L.) in Greece. Eur J Forest Res 124: 119–124.
Papageorgiou AC, Panetsos KP, Hattemer HH (1994). Genetic differentiation of natural Mediterranean cypress (Cupressus sempervirens L.) in Greece. Forest Genet 1: 1–12.
Peakall R, Smouse PE (2006). GENALEX 6: genetic analysis in Excel. Population genetic software for teaching and research. Mol Ecol Notes 6: 288–295.
Pearce DW (2001). The economic value of forest ecosystem. Ecosys Health 7: 284–296.
QIAGEN (2000). DNeasy Plant Mini Kit and DNeasy Plant Maxi Kit Handbook. Limberg, the Netherlands: QIAGEN Distributors. Qian W, Ge S, Hong DY (2001). Genetic variation within and among populations of a natural rice Oryza granulata from China detected by RAPD and ISSR markers. Theo Appl Genet 102: 440–449.
Quézel P (1985). Les pins du groupe halepensis: ecologie végétation ecophysiologie. In: CIHEAM, editor. Le pin d’Alep et le pin brutia dans la sylviculture méditerranéenne. Paris, France: Options Méditerranéennes Série Etudes 86: 11–66.
R Development Core Team (2011). R: A language and environment for statistical computing. Version 2.13.0. Vienna, Austria: R Foundation for Statistical Computing.