GENETIC DIVERSITY OF TULIPA SUAVEOLENS ROTH POPULATIONS IN VOLGOGRAD PROVINCE

Abstract

Background. The current natural habitat of Tulipa suaveolens Roth rapidly decreases. In order to work out the strategy of the species’ preservation, evaluation of its intraand interpopulation polymorphism is required.Materials and methods. Molecular-genetic ISSR markers were used to analyze 125 samples from 10 populations of T. suaveolens occurring in Volgograd Province and 4 populations from Saratov Province.Results. ISSR analysis revealed high intrapopulation polymorphism (73–89%) in T. suaveolens populations form Volgograd Province. AMOVA attributed the largest proportion of variability (74.3%) to intrapopulation polymorphism. Interpopulation differences account for 25.7%. Total subdivision of populations (FST) was 0.257; total gene flow (Nm) between populations was 0.723. According to Bayesian analysis and clustering with both UPGMA and Neighbor Joining methods, all the studied T. suaveolens samples from Volgograd Province make up a large genetic group: within that group none of the potential subgroups may be associated with a particular place of collecting. The NewHybrids software was applied, and the results pointed to the hybrid nature of most samples. Samples of three populations from Saratov Province made up a separate genetic group; those samples fell under the category of parent forms.Conclusion. Considering that genetic subdivision of T. suaveolens populations within the administrative borders of Volgograd Province is insignificant, while all the province’s natural parks and a number of protected natural areas undertake measures to preserve the species, the existing conservation strategy may be recognized as effective and sufficient.