GENETIC-VARIATION IN NATURAL-POPULATIONS OF FESTUCA-PRATENSIS FROM KARELIA

The genetic structure of natural populations of Festuca pratensis Huds . from Karelia was examined with regard to six isozyme loci. Populatio ns from different geographic regions, some of which were subjected to anthropogenic factors, were compared. Karelian populations of F. prate nsis were shown to exhibit high genetic similarity (mean I-N for diffe rent years of analysis varied from 0.995 to 0.981). Interpopulation di fferences accounted for less than 3.7% of the total variation. Populat ions differed mainly in rare specific isozyme variants. Frequencies of the common F allele of the Est-3 locus exhibited significant differen ces between populations. These differences are assumed to result both from anthropogenic and latitudinal factors.