%0 Research article
%T High genetic differentiation in marginal populations of European white elm (Ulmus laevis)
%A Vakkari, Pekka
%A Rusanen, Mari
%A Kärkkäinen, Katri
%D 2009
%J Silva Fennica
%V 43
%N 2
%R doi:10.14214/sf.205
%U https://silvafennica.fi/article/205
%X Studies on the amount of genetic variation in marginal populations and  differentiation between them are essential for assessment of best gene  conservation strategies and sampling schemes. Thirteen marginal  populations of Ulmus laevis in southern Finland and one in Estonia were  investigated for genetic variation in 20 allozyme loci. Population  differentiation among Finnish stands was high, F<sub>st</sub> = 0.290, and mean genetic diversity low, H<sub>e</sub> = 0.088. The differentiation follows the isolation-by-distance  structure within the core of the distribution area (lake Vanajavesi).  Fairly high frequency of recurrent genotypes was observed, but this did  not have an influence on the genetic parameters. The observed genetic  structure is consistent with the central-marginal hypothesis. In the  light of the results, the Finnish gene conservation strategy for U.  laevis seems to be on a sound basis.