Juniperus communis is an dioecious evergreen wind pollinated species of the Cupressaceae family with berry-like cones. Seeds are dispersed by birds and some animals.
It is varies from a prostate shrub to an spreading shrub and erect tree. Juniperus communis is a variable species. Many varieties have been recognized, however, differentiation between them may not be reliable. Junipers are the taxonomically difficult group.
Allozyme analysis was used to estimate genetic diversity and population structure in Juniperus communis L. var. communis and Juniperus communis L. var. saxatilis Pall. (syn. sibirica, alpina, nana, pigmaea, montana etc).
22 populations of juniper from Russia, one from Sweeden and one population of J. communis L. var. depressa Pursh from Alaska were examined using allozyme markers.
The enzymes were separated electrophoretically in the polyacrylamide gel and detected histochemically using conventional techniques.
By means of electrophoresis six enzyme systems from juniper (PGI, PGM, 6-PGDH, FDH, IDH, SOD) have been analyzed and, as a result, 10 loci were identified. BIOSYS-2, NTSYS-pc programs were used for data analysis.
All populations of J. c. var. communis and J. c.. var. saxatilis showed high polymorphism (P99=70-77%, À=2.3-2.5, Íå=0.21). Population J. c. var. depressa from Alaska and J. c.. var. saxatilis from central part of Sakhalin were more variable than the remaining.
Surprising, populations J. c.. var. saxatilis from Sakhalin are similar to population J. c. var. depressa from Alaska according to allozyme data.
The rest populations shared the same most common alleles. Population genetic differentiation estimated with Wright’s FST was 4% indicating significant contemporary gene flow demonstrating absence of geographic structure.
Thuse, J. c. var. communis was found to be similar to J. c. var. saxatilis .
Only prostrate form of J. c.. var. saxatilis from the rock (north and south Ural) could be barely distinguished according to allozyme markers.
Note. Abstracts are published in author's edition