CHARACTERIZATION OF GENETIC DIVERSITY OF LOCAL POPULATION OF GREY POPLAR (POPULUS x CANESCENS AITON SM.) USING SSR MARKERS AND PHENOTYPIC EVALUATION

The main goal of the presented study was to evaluate genotypes of unique population of grey poplar (Populus x canescens Aiton Sm.), which has been selected for its valuable parameters and limited reproduction ability by classical methods of vegetative propagation for gene pool preservation and restoration at Dyjakovice village (South Moravia Region, Czech Republic). Nuclear microsatellite (SSR) analyses using 14 SSR markers together with phenotype characterization determined that 90 sampled trees of female bias belonged to one clone. According to these results, the collection of grey poplars has been extended for 155 individuals in totally including both female and male bias (120 and 35, respectively) to discriminate their genetic diversity. Our data revealed occurrence of 6 unique genotypes among all female samples while higher genetic variability pattern exhibited male samples among which 27 genotypes have been detected. These findings about species genetic identity as well as genetic variability indicate the importance of SSR method for selection of valuable grey poplar genotypes as a source of reproductive material for further reforestation.