Assessment of genetic diversity of silver fir (Abies alba Mill.) in Serbia using SSR markers

The paper presents the results of the analysis of genetic variability of eight populations of silver fir (Abies alba Mill.) in Serbia obtained using SSR markers. The genomic DNA was isolated from tissue of needles of all eight populations. Due to the costly and lengthy process a small number of the SSR markers for Abies alba have been developed, so in this study were used the microsatellite markers of related species. The obtained results indicate a low level of the genetic variability between natural populations of silver fir. The total number of alleles detected with nine SSR markers in eight studied populations of silver fir is 28. The range of alleles varies from two for NFF15 to six for SF78 with an average of 3.1 alleles per locus. The mean value of genetic similarity between populations is 0.92. The smallest genetic similarity between pairs of populations is 0.82 (Dubocica Bare and Stara Planina; Dubocica Bare and Tara) and the greatest genetic similarity is 1 (Zlatar and Stara Planina, Zlatar and Tara, Stara Planina and Tara). A basic insight into the level of genetic diversity of natural populations of silver fir in Serbia, which are located in a relatively small area, has been given using a set of SSR markers. The obtained results can be used in the future strategy for the management and regeneration of silver fir forests.