Taxonomic and population differentiation of mitochondrial diversity inPinus banksiana andPinus conforta.

We have studied two mitochondrial DNA polymorphisms in 741 individuals from 16 allopatric populations ofPinus banksiana Lamb. andPinus contorta Dougl. Restriction fragments of both polymorphisms distinguished the two species qualitatively, except in aP. Banksiana population whose ancestors were involved in hybridization withP. contorta.COXI-associated restriction fragments were monomorphic within species, whileCOXII-associated restriction fragments were highly variable inP. contorta (Hes=0.68). Population differentiation was substantial inP. contorta (Fst=0.31 among subspecies; mean Fst=0.66 within subspecies) and consistent with predictions for maternally inherited markers. Plant mitochondrial markers appear to be useful for the investigation of seed migration routes, hybridization and introgression, breeding zone designation, and the development of germ plasm conservation sampling strategies.