Integration of Conservation Strategies of Plant Genetic ... - Genres

Perspectives for in situ conservation programs in Chestnut: Genetic Variation of
Castanea satica Mill. in Europe
F. VILLANI 1 , M. PIGLIUCCI 2 , M. CHERUBINI 1 , O. SUN 3 , L. PARDUCCI 1
It is a common opinion now that nature conservation, including in situ reserves, should concentrate on
the species level diversity and should be applied not only to species whose gene pool is already highly
reduced but also to widespread and largely used species for which a rather high degree of genetic
diversity is still available.
Chestnut can represent an example of a widely spread endangered species. In fact, it is widely distributed
and it is an element of the forest ecosystems in temperate areas. On the other hand it has been and still
is under strong selection pressure due to: a) intensive cultivation for fruit and timber production; b)
parasitic attacks which are the cause of rather widespread diseases like blight and ink diseases. Therefore
conservation programs, following an appropriate assessment of the amount of genetic diversity along
the distribution range of the species, are needed.
Data on studies carried out on the genetic structure of European chestnut (Castanea sativa Mill.) are
reported.
The aims of these studies were:
- to contribute to the knowledge of the origin and evolution of the species;
- to evaluate the present genetic resources which could be used in programs aiming at the preservation
and the exploitation of resources;
- to contribute to find new criteria which will indicate the most suitable strategies on management of
chestnut.
Samples were collected from three major zones, representing relevant steps in the evolution and the
spread of sweet chestnut in Europe:
1) Turkey, the supposed centre of origin of the species;
2) Italy, where chestnut, after disappearance during the last glaciation, was then found during
Neolitic and later during Roman period;
3) France, representing the latest phase of the expansion, close to the northern limit of the taxon.
Authors' addresses:
1
2
3
Istituto per l'Agroselvicoltura, CNR
05010 PORANO
Italy
Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology
University of Connecticut
STORRS 06269 CT
USA
Forest Research Institute
ANKARA
Turkey