Genetic variation of Abies alba Mill. in Polish part of Sudety Mts.

The genetic structure of silver fir (Abies alba Mill.) was investigated among 8 populations from Sudety Mts. and 2 additional populations from other parts of Poland. Nine enzyme systems controlled by 13 allozyme loci were analyzed using starch gel electrophoresis. The mean expected heterozygosity, ranging from 0.06 to 0.11 and was lower compared to that found in other conifers. The mean genetic distance among all silver fir populations was 0.005. The Sudeten group of populations appeared to be genetically different from the two populations from other parts of Poland, indicating that at least two different centers are responsible for the current distribution of allozyme polymorphism in the tested populations.