Comparative evaluation of the genetic diversity of natural populations and clonal seed orchards of Pinus sylvestris L. and Picea × fennica (Regel) Kom. in Karelia

The genetic diversity levels are assessed using the microsatellite loci in four native populations of Pinus sylvestris L. and Picea × fennica (Regel) Kom. for each species, as well as two fields of forest seed orchards (FSOs), growing in Karelia. As a result, high levels of the basic parameters of genetic diversity are revealed for the native populations of both species. It is found that the expected heterozygosity values are higher than the observed ones, indicating a deficiency of heterozygotes in the Karelian pine and spruce populations. The genetic diversity values found for the spruce seed orchards are much lower than for the native Picea × fennica populations, indicating an insufficient representation of the genetic pool of the species in the seed orchards. The Scots pine seed orchards are characterized by a high level of genetic diversity comparable to that in natural populations.