Genetic diversity of nuclear and mitochondrial genomes in Pinus parviflora Sieb. & Zucc. (Pinaceae) populations

Genetic diversities of the nuclear and mitochondrial genomes in Pinus parviflora were studied in 16 populations, which were distributed across most of the species' range in Japan. Six mitochondrial DNA haplotypes were identified among the 16 populations. The intrapopulation diversity of allozymes was similar to that of other endemic woody species (H-S = 0.259). Although P. parviflora is distributed in discrete populations, differentiation between these was very low (G(ST) = 0.044). In addition, the extent of genetic differentiation between two varieties (var. pentaphylla and var. parviflora) was extremely low (G(VT) = 0.001). Intrapopulation diversity of mitochondrial DNA was also very low (H-S = 0.098), but population differentiation was high (G(ST) = 0.863). Moreover, the distribution of haplotypes reflected the taxonomic differences between P. parviflora var. pentaphylla and var. parviflora. The populations of var. pentaphylla and var. parviflora contained different haplotypes. Differing modes of inheritance may account for the differences in nuclear and mitochondrial genetic diversity.