Pryvalikhin S. Population-and-genetic diversity of the Norway spruce (Picea abies (L.) Karst.) in the Ukrainian Carpathians

The thesis is devoted to population-and-genetic investigations of Norway spruce (Picea abies (L.) Karst.) in the Ukrainian Carpathians with the use of isoenzymes as molecular-genetic markers. Genetic control of nine isoenzymes has been studied. The basic indices of genetic polymorphism for Norway spruce were as follows: P99=80%, Ho=0,158, He=0,160, Pg=4,95, A=3,55. Mean value of Nei's genetic distance (DN) for nine P. abies populations, from which four are upland, was 0,005. It indicates the absence of an independent species Picea montana Schur in the uplands. It has been determined that 98% of genetic variation of Norway spruce fit intrapopulational variation and only about 2 % correspond to interpopulational one. The allele diversity of the parent trees is reproduced in the seed embryos, but there is evidence of major heterozygote deficiency. Mono- and multilocus estimations of outcrossing are indicative of high inbreeding level of P. abies in the Ukrainian Carpathians. Only two loci - Got-3 and Gdhsignificantly contributed to the differentiation of three related taxones: P. abies, P. obovata, P. x fennica. The P. x fennica is characterized by significantly greatest values of basic indices of genetic polymorphism and by various degrees of similarity in individual loci with P. abies and P. obovata, which confirms introgressive character of P. x fennica origin. The natural conditions of growth influence the formation of high-quality seed crop in populations P. abies, which grow at different heights. Seed productivity of the latter populations does not always depend on individual heterozygosity. The scale form index of female corns can be used as a probable phenomarker in the intropopulational variation studies of this species.