Gene flow from Fraxinus cultivars into natural stands of Fraxinus pennsylvanica occurs range-wide, is regionally extensive, and is associated with a loss of allele richness.

ABSTRACT: In North America, a comparatively small number of Fraxinus (ash) cultivars were planted in large numbers in both urban and rural environments across the entire range of Fraxinus pennsylvanica Marsh (green ash) over the last 80 years. Undetected cultivar gene flow, if extensive, could significantly lower genetic diversity within populations, suppress differentiation between populations, generate interspecific admixture not driven by long-standing natural processes, and affect the impact of abiotic and biotic threats. In this investigation we generated the first range-wide genetic assessment of F. pennsylvanica to detect the extent of cultivar gene flow into natural stands. We used 16 EST-SSR markers to genotype 48 naturally regenerated populations of F. pennsylvanica distributed across the

SUBMITTER: Abhainn EA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11098341 | biostudies-literature | 2024

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature