Genetic Diversity and Structure Using Microsatellite Markers in Natural and Breeding Populations of Thujopsis dolabrata var. hondae

Abstract

The genetic diversity and genetic structure of the natural and breeding populations in Hiba (Thujopsis dolabrata var. hondae) were investigated using five nuclear microsatellite markers. DNA samples were collected from seven natural populations in five prefectures (Hokkaido, Aomori, Iwate, Niigata, and Ishikawa) and three breeding populations in three prefectures famous for Hiba breeding (Aomori, Niigata, and Ishikawa). The genetic diversity such as allelic richness and expected heterozygosity between natural and three breeding populations were similar. In the results of STRUCTURE analysis and NJ tree, natural and breeding populations in Niigata and Ishikawa Prefectures were genetically differentiated from other populations. The NJ tree reflected the geographic location of each population, which suggested that the three breeding populations were selected from the natural populations in each prefecture. The detected genetic structures might be derived from the difference of their establishment process.