Rethinking the history of common walnut (Juglans regia L.) in Europe: Its origins and human interactions.

ABSTRACT: Common walnut (Juglans regia L) is an economically important species cultivated worldwide for its high-quality wood and nuts. It is generally accepted that after the last glaciation J. regia survived and grew in almost completely isolated stands in Asia, and that ancient humans dispersed walnuts across Asia and into new habitats via trade and cultural expansion. The history of walnut in Europe is a matter of debate, however. In this study, we estimated the genetic diversity and structure of 91 Eurasian walnut populations using 14 neutral microsatellites. By integrating fossil pollen, cultural, and historical data with population genetics, and approximate Bayesian analysis, we reconstructed the demographic history of walnut and its routes of dispersal across Europe. The genetic data confirm

SUBMITTER: Pollegioni P 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5336217 | biostudies-literature | 2017

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature