Taxonomic Assessment of Sorbus Bakonyensis (Syn. S. Udvardyana) and S. Pelsoensis, Two Apomictic Species in Hungary Based on Microsatellite and Morphometric Analyses

This study presents the results of molecular analyses at four nuclear microsatellite loci and multivariate morphometric analyses of Sorbus bakonyensis (syn. S. udvardyana) , an apomic- tic species with an unusual disjunct distribution in the genus Sorbus . In addition, the identification and characterization of S. pelsoensis , a species occasionally treated as conspecific with S. bakonyensis , is discussed. The multilocus pattern of each species studied was found to be distinct and taxon-specific. The genetic profile of S. bakonyensis proved to be uniform across its entire distribution range, including the isolated eastern population inhabiting the Mina Valley (Nagyvázsony). The distinctive multilocus pattern of S. pelsoensis confirms the independent ancestry and taxonomic status of the taxon. The results of the morphological analyses also confirms that the Sorbus population of Mina Valley belongs to S. bakonyensis , as well as supporting evidence for clear distinction of S. pelsoensis from S. bakonyensis .