Genetic characterisation of Populus tremula regions of origin in spain using RAPD fingerprints

Random Amplified Polymophic DNA (RAPD) was used to identify 89 Populus trem ula trees sampled from different Spanish origins. The combination of four p rimers provided a set of four banding patterns that permitted the identific ation of all genotypes with a high discrimination capacity. Some trees loca ted in the same stand or in near places showed the same fingerprint, probab ly due to clonal propagation. Multidimensional scaling analysis of the amplification bands showed low gen etic variability between different Spanish origins, but two different group s could be distinguished. The first one formed by individuals from the Nort hwest (Leon, Lugo, Orense and Zamora) and Huesca; and the second one by Hue sca, Segovia and Navarra. Huesca province (near the Pyrenees, in Northeast Spain) contained both groups, showing high variability between individuals of the same origin. Analysis of the RAPD fingerprints from different origin s showed that Huesca had the greatest number of banding patterns in common with others origins, suggesting a genetic flow from the Northeast to the re st of the Iberian Peninsula.