Alive and kicking, or, living on borrowed time? – Microsatellite diversity in natural populations of the endangered Ulmus minor Mill. sensu latissimo from Croatia

Abstract

The main objective of this research was to assess the genetic diversity of 5 natural field elm populations in Croatia. The study results suggest that the observed populations are characterized by a satisfactory amount of heterozygosity, and that the impact of the Dutch elm disease on the amount of genetic diversity in the sampled populations is currently negligible. However, one population displayed a significant excess of heterozygosity, implying a genetic bottleneck. The existence of a very clear genetic differentiation between the continental and the Mediterranean populations of Ulmus minor in Croatia was noticed.