CPDNA-POLYMORPHISM OF BEECH (FAGUS-SYLVAT ICA)

In the context of forest gene conservation a total of 22 adult beech s tands in south-western Germany (Rheinland-Pfalz) and seeds of 6 of the se stands were sampled in a genetic inventory analysed by a chloroplas t DNA-marker. Interest focused on differences in genetic variation amo ng and between the stands and the comparison of the results from isozy me and RFLP analysis of the same individuals. Controlled crosses of be ech and their progeny showed maternal inheritance of the chloroplast D NA as expected for most angiosperms. The hypothesis that the different iation between natural populations will be greater for uniparentally i nherited polymorphic DNA-marker than for biparentally inherited DNA-ma rkers, could be verified. Two cytotypes (Fig. 1) with different freque ncy distribution among the populations were found (Fig. 2). In all but 5 of the stands the same cytotype was rare; in these exceptional stan ds the frequencies of the cytotypes were nearly reversed suggesting th at these stands mere artificially established for 2 of these stands it was also indicated by their stand datas. For 4 stands an association between the allele-frequency of some nuclear encoded isoenzymes and ce rtain cytotypes could be detected (Tab.3).