Genetic insights into the hybrid origin of Abies × borisii - regis Mattf.

摘要: Abies × borisii-regis Mattf. (King Boris fir) is a taxon endemic to the southern Balkan Peninsula, described as hybrid between widespread A. alba Mill. (Silver and Greek cephalonica Loud (Greek fir). Even though has attracted much research attention in past, its origin, geographical distribution taxonomic status are not fully elucidated molecular evidence for hybridization missing. To shed more light on this issue, we analyzed representative populations from these three taxa using paternally inherited (chloroplast) maternally (mitochondrial) DNA markers. Both Silver fir could be clearly distinguished mitochondrial markers, while observed mixture of maternal lineages populations. In contrast, chloroplast identify species-specific haplotypes, but neighbor-joining analysis population genetic distances revealed two separate clusters fir, were placed intermediate positions. Our results agreement with hypothesis that investigated result alba.