Molecular characterisation of Pinus sylvestris (L.) in Ireland at the western limit of the species distribution.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) underwent significant population declines across much of northwest Europe during the mid-to-late Holocene and was thought to have become extirpated in Ireland from about 400 AD. However, most extant populations are plantations reintroduced from Scotland. Others are naturalised therefrom and one in Western Ireland is a putative relict. In this paper, Scots pine in Ireland are genetically described for the first time.

Results

Using two mitochondrial (mtDNA) loci, eight chloroplast (cpSSR) and 18 nuclear (nSSR) loci, the genetic composition and diversity of 19 Irish Scots pine populations is described and compared to other European populations. All trees sampled in Ireland were fixed for mitotype a, which is the most common across nor

SUBMITTER: Belton S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10807061 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature