No abstract

Developing ‘climate smart forestry’ (CSF) indicators in mountain forest regions requires collection and evaluation of local data and their attributes. Genetic resources are listed among the core indicators for ‘forest biological diversity’. This study is a report on the evaluation of the standing genetic diversity within and across 12 pure beech stands (<i>Fagus sylvatica</i> L.) established within the CLIMO project, using nuclear microsatellite markers. The sampling sites were set along the species’ distribution range, including the Balkan region and extending towards the Iberian Peninsula. Cores or leaves from 20-23, old, mature trees per plot were sampled for DNA analysis. Genetic diversity indices were high across the range (H_E = 0.74 - 0.81) with the highest in the Bosnian Mountains. Genetic divergence increased significantly with the geographical distance (Mantel test: r=0.81. p<0.001). Most of the stands exhibited an excess of heterozygotes, with the highest value at the Hungarian site (H_O/H_E = 1.177), where beech persists close to the eastern xeric limit of the species’ distribution. STRUCTURE revealed within–region differentiation in the Balkan Peninsula, where Bulgarian stand was the most outstanding. The genetic parameters of each stand could be assessed as a resource for CSF indicators interpreted especially at the local level.

Összefoglalás: Az óriás útifű a hazai fl óra fokozottan védett tagja, melynek fennmaradását több tényező is veszélyezteti, így a konzerváció kidolgozása, majd megvalósítása rendkívül fontos a faj fennmaradása szempontjából. A faj hazai állományainak csírázásbiológiájával kapcsolatosan nincsenek adatok, így kutatásunkkal ezt az ismereti hiányt igyekeztünk pótolni. Az óriás útifű (Plantago maxima Juss. ex Jacq.) csírázási tulajdonságainak vizsgálata alapul szolgálhat a megőrzési tervek kidolgozásához és egy hosszú távú ex situ állomány létrehozásához. Jelen kísérletünkben a hidegkezelést, a fény szerepét, valamint a magméret csírázásra gyakorolt hatását vizsgáltuk. Petri-csészés kísérleteket állítottunk be, 3-3 ismétléssel +20 °C-os hőmérsékleten történő neveléssel. Eredményeink szerint a növény magjai a csírázáshoz nem igényelnek hidegkezelést (hidegkezelés hatására 54,7%, míg a kontroll csoportnál 52% volt a csírázás). Bebizonyítottuk, hogy a faj magjainak kicsírázásához fény szükséges, pozitív fotoblasztikus magjai vannak; fényen 40%, fénytől elzárva 2,7% mag csírázott ki. A magméretnek nem volt szignifi káns hatása a csírázási százalékra, ugyanakkor az egyes egyedekről származó magok esetében jelentős eltéréseket tapasztaltunk.

Background The analysis of genetic diversity of protected plant species can greatly support conservation efforts. Plantago maxima Juss. ex Jacq. is a perennial species distributed along the Eurasian steppe. The westernmost range edge of the species’ distribution is located in the Pannonian basin, in Hungary where it is represented by a few, fragmented and highly endangered populations. We studied population diversity of all Hungarian range edge, natural populations, and one established ex situ population. One population from the centre of distribution (Kazakhstan) was implemented in the cpDNA haplotype study to compare the peripheral vs. central populations. We performed morphometric trait-based analysis, chromosome studies (morphometric analyses and FISH) and genetic diversity evaluations using inter simple sequence repeats (ISSR) and cpDNA trnL-trnF to evaluate differences between the in situ and ex situ populations as well as central vs. peripheral populations. Results Our results showed no obvious morphological differences among the in situ and ex situ populations in the period between 2018 and 2020. One ex situ subpopulation develops flowers three years in a row from 2019, which is a favourable indicator of the introduction success. Hungarian populations are exclusively diploids (2n = 2x = 12). The karyogram consists of 5 metacentric and 1 acrocentric chromosome pair. Plantago maxima has one 35S and two 5S rDNA loci, located on the acrocentric chromosome pair. Eight variable ISSR primers yielded 100 fragments, of which 74.6% were polymorphic (mean He = 0.220). A high level of genetic variation within population was observed (92%) while the genetic differentiation among the populations was only 8%. STRUCTURE analysis revealed that the largest Kunpeszér population separated from the rest of the Hungarian populations, indicating a high rate of admixture among the other ones. Based on the trnL-trnF sequence analysis the Hungarian populations represent a single haplotype, which can indicate a reduced diversity due to isolation and recent population decline. By contrast, Kazakh population represents a distinct haplotype compared to the Hungarian samples. Conclusions The present study draws the attention to the high conservation value of the Plantago maxima populations from the westernmost range edge of the species’ distribution.