On the Issue of Larix × lubarskii Sukaczev Origin: Analysis of Polymorphism of Mitochondrial Genome Markers

Abstract

The genetic diversity of Larix × lubarskii Sukaczev and its genetic relationships to other larches from the south of Primorsky krai and Far Eastern and Siberian Larix species were for the first time studied according to the analysis of the UBC460 mitochondrial origin fragment length polymorphism and nucleotide sequences of the 5'-flanking region of the atpA gene and nad4(3c–4r) region in mitochondrial DNA. Two length variants of the UBC460 fragment were detected in the L. × lubarskii population (with a predominance of the short one). This taxon is characterized by an average haplotype (0.582) and low nucleotide (0.0003) diversity. The comparative analysis of nucleotide polymorphism of two mtDNA regions in larches from the south of Primorsky krai revealed three mitotypes in L. × lubarskii; only one of them was common with L. olgensis A. Henry (locus classicus). The network of mitotype genealogical relationships indicates a common origin of L. × lubarskii and L. olgensis and their relatively recent divergence, as well as a closer relationship to L. sibirica Ledeb. than to L. gmelinii (Rupr.) Rupr.