Genetic analysis of silver-fir populations in the Beskids

Twenty-eight isozymic loci were studied in the Beskid Mts., in four populations of common silver-fir (Abies alba): one in Beskid Makowski (BM) and three populations in Beskid Sądecki (BS). Their genetic variation and diversity were analyzed, and Nei's genetic distances between the populations were calculated. The results show that the geographical distance between the BM population and the three BS populations is reflected in genetic distances. The BM population is clearly distinct from the others. It has the lowest genetic diversity (I = 0.42), percentage of polymorphic loci (%PoL = 64.29) and number of rare alleles (NoRa = 5). Besides, the BM population has the highest observed heterozygosity (Ho = 0.291), which exceeds the expected heterozygosity (He = 0.254), estimated on the basis of the Hardy-Weinberg Principle. On the contrary, BS populations are in the state of equilibrium, which is manifested, in similar values of He = 0.262 and Ho = 0.264.