ANALYSIS OF GENETIC ARCHITECTURE OF FORES T STANDS INFERRED FROM SPATIAL AUTOCORRELATIONS

In principle, plant genotypes might be clustered spatially for several reasons. Limited gene flow by restricted pollen and seed dispersal ca n cause patches of identical or similar genotypes. Demographic factors can contribute to those genetic clusters. Recent introduction of new genetic variants or mutation are potentially further components that c ause a non-random genetic architecture, i. e. genetic structure within topodemes. Furthermore, differential selection among patches in the e nvironment can enhance or counteract above-mentioned spatial forces. T his paper reviews how spatial structure of genetic variation within fo rest stands is inferred by means of spatial autocorrelation. MORAN's I and its significance test are presented. For different model populati ons genetic architectures are described using MORAN's I and spatial co rrelograms. Genetic architectures in North American forest tree specie s are briefly reviewed. Experimental evidence indicates randomly to we akly differentiated genetic architectures in conifers, whereas genetic substructures in broadleaf species are best described as subtle to mo derate. No results are available based on European studies.