We studied the genetic composition of 200 pedunculate oak (Quercus robur) trees at nine nuclear microsatellite gene loci. We sampled nine locations in an area of 1100 km by 400 km in the South-Ural. The question was to analyse the genetic differentiation of the oaks at the south-east edge of the species distribution area. We observed relatively high values of genetic differentiation and fixation (delta=0.387, FST=0.0652, FST(Hedrick)=0.407) compared to values from the centre of the species distribution range. Bayesian clustering analysis revealed three genetic groups. Presence of all genetic groups was detected at all locations, but oak trees in the extreme east of the Ural Mountains were genetically most different. We hypothesise that genetic drift influenced the observed pattern.

We used double digest restriction site associated DNA sequencing (ddRAD) to develop new geographically informative nuclear SNP loci in Quercus robur and Quercus petraea. Genotypes derived from sequence data of 95 individuals covering the distribution range of the species were analysed to select geographically informative and polymorphic loci within Russia and Germany. We successfully screened a selected set of 119 loci on a MassARRAY® iPLEX™ platform on 190 individuals from 19 locations in Russia. The newly developed loci will be useful for genetic studies over the whole distribution range of both species.

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