Genetic diversity and structure of Quercus variabilis populations in the Republic of Korea based on microsatellite markers

ABSTRACT The study of genetic diversity and structure in populations of tree species is critical to establishing conservation and management strategies. Quercus variabilis is a widely distributed tree species in the Republic of Korea. It is ecologically adapted to the local environment and is thus a useful resource for tree breeding in the Republic of Korea. Most populations are secondary forests resulting from ecological succession. In this study, we estimated the genetic diversity and structure of natural populations of Q. variabilis. We used 10 microsatellite markers to genetically analyze 691 samples from 20 populations. The mean observed heterozygosity and expected heterozygosity were 0.673 and 0.691, respectively. The genetic diversity of Q. variabilis was moderate compared to other Quercus species. The mean pairwise FST value was 0.010 and the фST value was 0.013, based on AMOVA. The mean FST value was 0.022 from Wright’s F-statistics. The genetic differentiation was very low compared to other Quercus species. Additionally, we did not find any genetic clustering using the unweighted pair group method with arithmetic mean, principal coordinates analysis, or Bayesian cluster analysis. No correlation was detected between geographical and genetic distances (r = 0.005, P = 0.472). Therefore, the genetic diversity and structure of Q. variabilis may be affected by dynamic factors such as biological characteristics, evolutionary history, disturbance, and adaptation. Overall, our results may help to establish suitable forest conservation and management strategies in the Republic of Korea.