Intraspecific variation in chloroplast DNA psbAI gene region of silver fir (Abies alba Mill.)

Based on Southern-blot analysis the eight restriction enzyme specific variants were revealed in silver fir (Abies alba Mill.) confirming intraspecific variation in its chloroplast DNA psbAI gene region. The paternal inheritance of detected variants was illustrated in three interspecific hybrids of firs using Bam HI digestions. At the population level, a differential occurrence of individual variants was found in the two natural stands of silver fir in Slovakia. It is suggested that nature of the revealed cpDNA polymorphisms makes them useful for genetic and population studies of the species.