Quick Identification of Genetic Provenances and Best Practice Woodland Management of Chinese Pine (Pinus tabuliformis)

Abstract Chinese pine (Pinus tabuliformis) is one of the most widespread, ecologically and economically important tree species in North China. In this study, we analyzed and compared the genetic diversity and population structure of 158 individuals from 17 populations of P. tabuliformis, by group III, a new mitochondrial marker system (nad1-2, nad4-3, nad5-1 and nad7-1) with two other groups of marker systems. In contrast to the conservation in the evolution of the mitochondrial sequence, the new mitochondrial marker system of P. tabuliformis shows as extremely high polymorphism as 25, whose haplotypes are more than four times of the group I marker system (nad1-2, nad4-3, and nad5-1) as 8 haplotypes. Although the group II, nad7-1 (19 haplotypes), showed high resolution in the provenance identification of P. tabuliformis, the new mitochondrial marker system is more accurate for detection of specific groups like HL, WT and NS and powerful to differentiate populations between GD and SS. The results suggested that the new mitochondrial marker system is as high as the resolution of GBS (genotype by seqencing). It is much more available and will be of great help to provenance identification and molecular assisted breeding of P. tabuliformis. This study will make theoretical foundation for the following studies on the evaluation, cultivation and germplasm management of P. tabuliformis populations and aid the breeding, biodiversity and conservation programs of forest species.