Genetic Diversity of Silver Fir (Abies alba) and European Beech (Fagus sylvatica) Populations from the South-Eastern Limits of Their Natural Distribution

Observed (Ho) and expected (He) heterozygosity, as well as allelic richness (AR) were calculated using Simple Sequence Repeats (SSR) genotyping for two important European keystone forest tree species. Abies alba and Fagus sylvatica are under pressure in a large part of their distribution due to climate change. Since Greece is their south-eastern limits, climatic pressure is even higher. As rear edge/peripheral populations, it is expected to harbor valuable and well-adapted germplasm in conditions such as those expected in central Europe by the end of the century. Comparison of their genetic variation amongst the Greek marginal populations and population from the SW, S or main range of their distribution was performed, finding no statistical differences.