Document: PAI-3-25-6

Gene flow and local adaptation in Scots pine.

HURME, P.* and O.SAVOLAINEN

Department of Biology, P. O. Box 3000, FIN-90014 University of Oulu, Finland ¹

Abstract:
Scots pine has the widest distribution of all pine species, ranging from Spain to northern Finland. In Finland, the northern limit is at 70 N. A practically infinite population size and efficient pollen flow across southern and northern Finland has resulted to a uniform pattern of variation at neutral markers (microsatellites, isozymes, RFLPs), with FST = 0.02. In spite of migration, a different pattern is revealed at traits related to adaptation to local conditions. The environmental gradient is steep with a shorter growing season in the north than in the south. Hence, in the fall, growth ceases, terminal buds are formed and frost hardiness starts developing earlier in the northern populations. These differences have a genetical basis, with QST as high as 0.82 in bud set date between north and south. In our QTL mapping experiment, it was revealed that large genetic effects may underlie differences in bud set date and frost hardiness between northern and southern Finland.

Keywords: local adaptation, gene flow

This abstract is being presented at: 11:00 AM in session:
Symposium # 26: Conservation of Ecologically Important Variation: Comparing Molecular Markers and Ecological Traits.