DNA polymorphism at nine nuclear microsatellites of nine selected naturally-regenerated Norway spruce populations growing mainly within gene conservation units in different parts of the Czech Republic was studied. To verify the genetic quality of the selected gene conservation unit, we analyzed nine Norway spruce subpopulations from gene conservation unit GZ 102-Orlické hory. Genetic parameters can be used in state administrative decision making on including stands into gene conservation units. The level of genetic diversity within 17 investigated Czech Norway spruce units was relatively high. Mean values for the number of different alleles ranged from 12.2 (population SM 08) to 16.2 (subpopulation SM T4). The values of observed heterozygosity (H o) ranged from 0.65 to 0.80 and expected heterozygosity (H e) from 0.74 to 0.81. Pairwise population F ST values ranging from 0.006 to 0.027 indicated low genetic differentiation between units, and values of Nei's genetic distance among Norway spruce units ranged from 0.046 to 0.168, thus structuring of the investigated Norway spruce units was confirmed. Closer genetic similarity was seen in subpopulations from the gene conservation unit in Orlické hory than in the studied populations from other genetic conservation units. Additionally, the populations SM 01 and SM 05, both of Hurst ecotypes, were the closest to one another and the populations of mountain and alpine ecotypes were assembled into another group.

Cvrčková H., Máchová P., Poláková L., Trčková O. (2017): Evaluation of the genetic diversity of selected Fagus sylvatica L. populations in the Czech Republic using nuclear microsatellites. J. For. Sci., 63: 53-61.Fagus sylvatica Linnaeus (European beech), the ecologically and economically most important broadleaved tree species in the Czech Republic, was strongly reduced in the past. Today there are efforts to increase the proportion of beech to ensure optimal forest tree species composition. When extensively reintroducing beech, it is important to acquire more detailed knowledge of genetic diversity. Thirteen important beech populations in different stands in the territory of the Czech Republic were genotyped using 12 polymorphic nuclear microsatellite markers. The genotypic data from adult trees imply genetic differences between the populations. The estimated genetic diversity expressed as Shannon's information index ranged from 1.73 to 1.92. Thirteen beech populations showed excess homozygotes, as indicated by positive fixation index (F) values (F = 0.005-0.115). The pairwise F ST values indicated low genetic differentiation between the 13 Czech beech populations, because they were greater than zero, that means they confirmed the presence of population structuring in Czech European beech. Not significant linear correlations were observed between genetic and geographic distances of the 13 beech populations studied on the basis of microsatellite markers. Twelve microsatellite markers were verified as highly polymorphic and suitable for genotyping of European beech populations.