Allozyme variation was examined in 22 populations of Pinus densiflora (Sieb, et Zucc.) and four geographic varieties of P. sylvestris (L.): var 'lapponica' (Fries, Hartman), var 'armena' (Komarov), var 'mongolica' (Litvinov) and var 'sylvestriformis' (Takenouchi). In addition, we developed paternal chloroplast (cp) DNA markers that distinguish P. densiflora from var 'lapponica', var 'armena' and var 'mongolica'. UPGMA cluster analysis based on Nei's distances between all pairwise combinations of the 22 populations revealed patterns corresponding strictly to geographic origin and taxonomic status. Analysis of allozyme variation in var 'lapponica', var 'armena' and var 'mongolica' demonstrated a high level of intrapopulational variability but a low level of interpopulational differentiation. It appears that the late Pleistocene blending of genetically diverse populations was responsible for the observed variation patterns. The constructed phylogenetic trees also showed late divergence of these three varieties. The var 'sylvestri formis' was genetically distinct from the other three P. sylvestris varieties. The genetic distances separating var 'sylvestriformis' from P. densiflora and the other taxa lend support to a separate taxonomic status for var 'sylvestriformis' and a close relation with P. densiflora. We found that var 'sylvestriformis' harbors admixtures of allozymes and cpDNA from both P. sylvestris and P. densiflora, which suggests an introgressive nature of this variety. Levels of intrapopulational variability were similar in P. sylvestris and P. densiflora, but interpopulational differentiation was much higher in P. densiflora. In the constructed phylogenetic trees, populations of this species were characterized by relatively long internode distances and branch lengths. The present results suggest that P. densiflora has a more advanced evolutionary age than P. sylvestris.

Summary Genomic DNA from 81 isolates of Gremmeniella abietina collected from eleven plantations each of Pinus sylvestris and Pinus contorta in northern Sweden was studied using RAPD markers. The DNA variation between and within populations and the race and type distribution of G. abietina populations, causing symptoms similar to those of the North American race, were studied. The degree of genetic similarity was greater among G. abietina isolates from the same geographical areas than among isolates from different geographical areas, regardless of whether they were isolated from P. sylvestris or P. contorta. RAPD variation was greatest in the central parts of northern Sweden, suggesting that sexual reproduction has been somewhat more important there than further north or south. Only the RAPD fragments characteristic of the EU race of G. abietina were found in the material tested. The RAPD pattern described as characteristic of the northern type within the EU race was identified in 62% of the isolates. Divergence from the expected profile was due to differences in occurrence of fragments OPA12‐1400 and 12‐1500. This indicates that this part of the RAPD profile cannot be treated as diagnostic for the northern type. A conclusion of practical importance is that there is a considerable risk of G. abietina spreading from infected P. contorta plantations to adjacent areas with indigenous P. sylvestris regeneration, and vice versa, owing to the indicated lack of host‐specificity of the pathogen. It is possible, however, that host‐specific strains exist, but do not differ in their RAPD profiles.

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