Genetic Variability of Tree Junipers of Section Sabina: Data from Dagestan, Armenia, and Crimea

The analysis of variability of four intergenic spacers of chloroplast DNA in the endangered closely related species of junipers — Juniperus excelsa , J. polycarpos , and J. foetidissima in the northern limits of their distribution—. Caucasus and Crimea was performed. Analysis of molecular variance (AMOVA) showed a high degree of differentiation of the three taxa ( G CT = 0.9905, P < 0.0001). Seven haplotypes have been identified in total. The population of J. foetidissima from Armenia is characterized by high genetic diversity ( H = 0.442); the genetic diversity was smaller in J. excelsa ( H = 0.200); the J. polycarpos populations were found to be monomorphic. The studied samples, together with those included in the analysis from GenBank from the main part of the range, formed three clades corresponding to three taxa, with high statistical support.