Allozyme frequency distributions in four Swedish populations of Norway spruce (Picea abiesK.)

Allozyme variation in eleven loci was studied in four Swedish populations of Picea abies.For six of the loci, GDH-B, GOT-A, GOT-C, LAP-A, MDH-Aand MDH-Bthe inheritance of allozyme bands was ascertained from their distributions to female gametes within single trees. Significant divergence in gene frequencies among populations was demonstrated, which in four of the loci appears to be correlated to differences in altitude of the habitats. Estimates of genetic variability was, however, uniformly distributed among populations. The possible influence of different selection intensities and adaptation to microhabitat was discussed. It was, furthermore, demonstrated in analyses of linkage that three of the allozyme loci studied are situated on one chromosome sufficiently close to reduce the frequency of recombination in female gametes. Finally, from preliminary studies of the mating system were obtained maximum estimates of self-fertilization in three of the populations.