Conservation genetic evaluation of Juniperus communis sensu lato in Slovakia.

ABSTRACT: This study explores the population structure, hybridization, and adaptation of Juniperus communis sensu lato in the context of its current habitat fragmentation, using inter-primer binding site markers and needle morphometry. Three native juniper taxa in Slovakia were analyzed: J. communis ssp. communis, J. communis ssp. nana, and their putative hybrid, J. communis nothovar. intermedia. The results reveal a moderate overall structure (Φ_PT = 0.115, p = 0.001), indicating high gene flow within ssp. communis and low gene flow between ssp. communis and ssp. nana. However, after correcting for non-neutral loci, the inter-subspecies differentiation dropped significantly, suggesting adaptive divergence despite substantial gene flow. This conclusion was further supported using admixture

SUBMITTER: Klobucnik M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11897283 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature