1

Fig. 1. Sample collection sites within the Baltic states – Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania (from top to bottom) to assess genetic diversity and structure of Vaccinium myrtillus (a), V. vitis-idaea (b) and V. uliginosum (c). View larger in new window/tab.

Table 1. EST-SSR markers used for Vaccinium species analysis. X – marker used in the respective species.
Locus Annealing
temperature, °C 		Allele size range (bp) V. myrtillus V. vitis-idaea V. uliginosum
NA961 60 174–189 x x  
CA794F 58–60 238–270   x x
CA483F 58 312–322 x    
CA112F 58–60 170–200 x x x
NA741 58–60 316–360 x x x
CA236F 60–62 227–247 x x  
CA421F 58–60 164–212 x x x
VCC_K4 60 199–265 x x  
VCC_J9 60 106–188   x x
NA398 58 219–241   x  
NA1040 60 205–247   x  
CA344F 60 124–184     x
CA642F 60 302–354     x
VCC_I2 60 205–219 x   x
Table 2. Genetic diversity parameters, obtained using EST-SSR markers in the analysed Vaccinium myrtillus populations.
Popu­lation number Population Coordinates
(N, E) 		No. of
indivi-
duals 		Average no. of alleles (SE) Average no. of effective alleles (SE) Average Information index (SE) Average Unbiased Expected heterozy-
gosity (SE) 		Average Observed
heterozy-
gosity (SE) 		No. of unique frag-
ments
Latvia
1 Zalvīte 56.372, 25.208 24 4.00 (1.20) 2.31 (0.43) 0.89 (0.20) 0.48 (0.08) 0.36 (0.10) 0
2 Ugāle 57.289, 22.047 24 4.50 (1.27) 2.09 (0.29) 0.83 (0.19) 0.45 (0.09) 0.39 (0.10) 1
3 Neveja 57.564, 22.307 24 3.75 (1.08) 2.04 (0.31) 0.78 (0.20) 0.42 (0.09) 0.39 (0.10) 0
4 Rucava 56.195, 21.107 24 3.88 (0.95) 1.98 (0.27) 0.76 (0.16) 0.42 (0.09) 0.32 (0.09) 1
5 Oleri 57.802, 25.414 24 3.50 (0.87) 2.10 (0.33) 0.80 (0.18) 0.45 (0.08) 0.39 (0.10) 0
6 Lubāna 56.892, 26.682 24 4.00 (1.18) 2.06 (0.33) 0.78 (0.18) 0.43 (0.09) 0.32 (0.09) 0
7 Jumurda 56.955, 25.725 24 4.38 (1.25) 2.13 (0.30) 0.86 (0.19) 0.46 (0.08) 0.40 (0.09) 0
8 Sala 56.524, 25.727 18 4.75 (1.26) 2.61 (0.68) 0.98 (0.22) 0.50 (0.09) 0.45 (0.11) 2
9 Garciems 57.110, 24.193 24 3.50 (0.76) 1.94 (0.26) 0.76 (0.17) 0.42 (0.09) 0.30 (0.07) 0
10 Inčukalns 57.084, 24.676 24 4.00 (1.20) 2.38 (0.46) 0.86 (0.23) 0.47 (0.11) 0.46 (0.11) 0
11 Preiļi 56.368, 26.771 24 3.50 (0.57) 1.93 (0.25) 0.75 (0.14) 0.42 (0.08) 0.41 (0.10) 0
12 Līvāni 56.386, 26.235 23 3.50 (0.80) 1.95 (0.21) 0.77 (0.13) 0.45 (0.06) 0.44 (0.08) 0
13 Rēzekne 56.434, 27.378 24 3.13 (0.64) 1.86 (0.21) 0.69 (0.15) 0.40 (0.09) 0.35 (0.11) 0
14 Daugavpils 55.956, 26.497 26 4.50 (1.27) 2.20 (0.46) 0.84 (0.22) 0.43 (0.10) 0.40 (0.10) 1
15 Embūte 56.461, 21.887 24 3.75 (0.82) 2.26 (0.26) 0.91 (0.15) 0.51 (0.07) 0.42 (0.06) 0
16 Brocēni 56.654, 22.638 24 4.38 (1.02) 2.23 (0.35) 0.89 (0.18) 0.48 (0.08) 0.40 (0.09) 0
17 Saka 56.869, 21.304 24 4.63 (1.27) 2.26 (0.34) 0.93 (0.19) 0.50 (0.08) 0.49 (0.08) 0
18 Ovīši 57.564, 21.797 24 4.00 (1.20) 2.26 (0.41) 0.83 (0.23) 0.44 (0.11) 0.44 (0.12) 0
19 Īvande 57.004, 21.792 24 3.75 (0.65) 2.16 (0.29) 0.85 (0.15) 0.47 (0.08) 0.32 (0.10) 0
20 Viļaka 57.155, 27.537 23 3.63 (0.53) 2.08 (0.26) 0.81 (0.15) 0.46 (0.08) 0.32 (0.10) 0
21 Beberbeķu parks 56.952, 23.957  24 4.25 (0.75) 2.28 (0.38) 0.89 (0.18) 0.48 (0.09) 0.45 (0.10) 0
22 Mežaparks 57.012, 24.157 24 4.25 (1.03) 2.40 (0.40) 0.91 (0.20) 0.50 (0.09) 0.40 (0.10) 0
Estonia
23 Rannametsa 58.134, 24.512 16 3.13 (0.44) 2.37 (0.31) 0.87 (0.15) 0.52 (0.09) 0.41 (0.08) 0
24 Lehtmetsa 59.203, 25.600 16 3.63 (0.98) 2.24 (0.37) 0.85 (0.20) 0.47 (0.09) 0.37 (0.10) 0
25 Mustvee 58.870, 26.919 16 3.50 (0.73) 2.02 (0.30) 0.77 (0.18) 0.43 (0.10) 0.32 (0.09) 0
26 Nigula 58.007, 24.714 16 3.50 (0.76) 1.91 (0.26) 0.74 (0.15) 0.42 (0.08) 0.36 (0.09) 0
27 Korvemaa 59.285, 25.611 16 4.25 (0.90) 2.21 (0.40) 0.85 (0.21) 0.44 (0.10) 0.34 (0.10) 0
28 Tooma 58.876, 26.272 16 3.38 (0.84) 1.91 (0.27) 0.74 (0.17) 0.41 (0.08) 0.37 (0.10) 0
29 Peedu 58.248, 26.453 17 3.38 (0.84) 2.14 (0.36) 0.77 (0.19) 0.44 (0.10) 0.35 (0.10) 0
Lithuania
30 Motiejunai village 55.051, 24.485 13 2.88 (0.55) 1.97 (0.27) 0.72 (0.17) 0.43 (0.09) 0.43 (0.12) 0
31 Anykščiai 55.566, 25.126 16 3.88 (0.92) 2.20 (0.26) 0.87 (0.16) 0.49 (0.09) 0.36 (0.09) 0
32 Degutine forest 55.315, 25.738 16 3.75 (0.86) 2.30 (0.50) 0.81 (0.22) 0.43 (0.11) 0.38 (0.10) 0
33 Aklasis ežeras 55.135, 24.482 16 3.50 (0.87) 2.06 (0.30) 0.79 (0.19) 0.44 (0.10) 0.50 (0.12) 0
34 Zapyškis forest 54.898, 23.613 16 3.88 (0.67) 2.15 (0.30) 0.87 (0.14) 0.49 (0.07) 0.53 (0.10) 1
35 Aukštumala bog 55.380, 21.367 15 3.50 (0.54) 2.05 (0.26) 0.82 (0.14) 0.47 (0.08) 0.43 (0.10) 2
36 Novaraistis 54.959, 23.373 16 3.50 (0.73) 2.42 (0.40) 0.91 (0.17) 0.52 (0.08) 0.52 (0.08) 0
37 Labanoras forest 55.217, 25.662 16 3.75 (0.86) 2.23 (0.39) 0.82 (0.20) 0.45 (0.11) 0.44 (0.11) 0
38 Viešvile NR 55.176, 22.468 16 3.75 (0.94) 2.24 (0.34) 0.85 (0.19) 0.48 (0.09) 0.43 (0.11) 0
2

Fig. 2. Plot of Coordinate 1 vs. Coordinate 2 obtained by principal coordinates analysis (PCoA) based on pairwise unbiased Nei genetic distances between Vaccinium myrtillus populations. Population numbers as in Table 2. Variation explained by axis 1: 31.64%, axis 2: 22.82%.

Table 3. Genetic diversity parameters, obtained using EST-SSR markers in the analysed Vaccinum vitis-idaea populations.
Popula-
tion number 		Population Coordinates
(N, E) 		No. of indivi-
duals 		Average no. of alleles (SE) Average no. of effective alles (SE) Average Information index (SE) Average Unbiased Expected heterozy-gosity (SE) Average Observed heterozy-
gosity (SE) 		No. of unique frag-
ments
Latvia
1 Preiļi 56.368, 26.771 26 5.00 (0.67) 3.27 (0.35) 1.27 (0.12) 0.67 (0.04) 0.518 (0.050) 0
2 Rēzekne 56.434, 27.378 24 5.20 (0.73) 3.09 (0.48) 1.24 (0.14) 0.64 (0.04) 0.575 (0.082) 0
3 Līvāni 56.386, 26.235 24 4.50 (0.52) 2.74 (0.29) 1.10 (0.11) 0.61 (0.05) 0.508 (0.093) 0
4 Daugavpils 55.956, 26.497 26 3.70 (0.45) 2.56 (0.35) 0.97 (0.15) 0.53 (0.08) 0.446 (0.119) 0
5 Embūte 56.461, 21.887 24 5.30 (0.65) 3.59 (0.36) 1.36 (0.11) 0.71 (0.03) 0.562 (0.074) 0
6 Brocēni 56.654, 22.638 24 5.30 (0.76) 3.45 (0.39) 1.31 (0.14) 0.68 (0.05) 0.487 (0.087) 0
7 Saka 56.869, 21.304 25 5.80 (1.04) 3.72 (0.63) 1.33 (0.17) 0.68 (0.05) 0.531 (0.076) 0
8 Īvande 57.004, 21.792 24 3.90 (0.55) 2.35 (0.27) 0.93 (0.14) 0.51 (0.07) 0.421 (0.095) 0
9 Ovīši 57.564, 21.797 24 4.70 (0.70) 2.81 (0.29) 1.14 (0.13) 0.61 (0.05) 0.491 (0.093) 0
10 Gulbene 57.217, 26.594 24 4.30 (0.58) 2.35 (0.21) 0.97 (0.11) 0.54 (0.06) 0.638 (0.113) 0
11 Alūksne 57.410, 27.275 24 5.20 (0.63) 3.18 (0.27) 1.27 (0.11) 0.67 (0.04) 0.531 (0.080) 0
12 Beberbeķu parks 56.952, 23.957  24 5.80 (0.74) 4.05 (0.55) 1.43 (0.16) 0.70 (0.06) 0.571 (0.069) 2
13 Zalvīte 56.372, 25.208 24 5.30 (0.75) 3.53 (0.51) 1.31 (0.14) 0.68 (0.05) 0.616 (0.078) 0
14 Neveja 57.564, 22.307 24 5.10 (0.71) 3.64 (0.48) 1.34 (0.13) 0.70 (0.04) 0.631 (0.058) 0
15 Ugāle 57.289, 22.047 24 6.00 (0.70) 3.39 (0.52) 1.31 (0.13) 0.67 (0.04) 0.516 (0.089) 2
16 Rucava 56.195, 21.107 24 4.60 (0.60) 3.15 (0.44) 1.20 (0.14) 0.64 (0.05) 0.532 (0.080) 2
17 Garciems 57.110, 24.193 24 4.30 (0.56) 2.64 (0.28) 1.09 (0.12) 0.59 (0.05) 0.461 (0.093) 0
18 Oleri 57.802, 25.414 24 5.10 (0.80) 3.28 (0.36) 1.24 (0.15) 0.65 (0.06) 0.504 (0.078) 0
19 Lubāna 56.892, 26.682 26 4.90 (0.74) 3.11 (0.36) 1.22 (0.12) 0.65 (0.04) 0.485 (0.068) 1
20 Jumurda 56.955, 25.725 24 5.20 (0.57) 3.22 (0.29) 1.29 (0.10) 0.68 (0.03) 0.600 (0.050) 0
Estonia
21 Nigula 58.007, 24.714 15 4.10 (0.53) 2.70 (0.25) 1.11 (0.10) 0.62 (0.04) 0.534 (0.086) 0
22 Rannametsa 58.134, 24.512 16 5.10 (0.81) 3.59 (0.48) 1.32 (0.15) 0.70 (0.04) 0.608 (0.097) 0
23 Mustvee 58.870, 26.919 16 4.70 (0.68) 3.47 (0.54) 1.27 (0.14) 0.68 (0.05) 0.620 (0.086) 0
24 Korvemaa 59.285, 25.611 16 4.80 (0.76) 3.48 (0.53) 1.26 (0.15) 0.67 (0.05) 0.527 (0.083) 0
25 Peedu 58.248, 26.453 16 5.00 (0.83) 3.34 (0.58) 1.22 (0.18) 0.63 (0.07) 0.478 (0.106) 1
26 Lehtmetsa 59.203, 25.600 16 5.00 (0.70) 3.32 (0.44) 1.26 (0.15) 0.66 (0.06) 0.390 (0.075) 0
27 Tooma 58.876, 26.272 16 4.40 (0.54) 2.91 (0.22) 1.17 (0.09) 0.66 (0.03) 0.544 (0.083) 0
Lithuania
28 Motiejunai village 55.051, 24.485 16 4.60 (0.73) 3.09 (0.41) 1.17 (0.16) 0.63 (0.06) 0.622 (0.085) 1
29 Degutine forest 55.315, 25.738 16 4.70 (0.65) 3.44 (0.50) 1.25 (0.15) 0.66 (0.06) 0.580 (0.090) 0
30 Anykščiai 55.566, 25.126 16 5.70 (0.84) 3.44 (0.40) 1.34 (0.14) 0.68 (0.05) 0.478 (0.081) 0
31 Zapyškis forest 54.898, 23.613 15 4.80 (0.65) 3.19 (0.38) 1.24 (0.13) 0.66 (0.05) 0.556 (0.078) 0
32 Aklasis ežeras 55.135, 24.482 16 5.10 (0.67) 3.30 (0.46) 1.26 (0.14) 0.66 (0.05) 0.466 (0.102) 2
33 Novaraistis 54.959, 23.373 16 4.40 (0.43) 2.91 (0.24) 1.18 (0.09) 0.66 (0.04) 0.557 (0.071) 1
34 Labanoras forest 55.217, 25.662 16 4.80 (0.53) 3.21 (0.41) 1.24 (0.12) 0.66 (0.05) 0.506 (0.086) 0
35 Viešvile NR 55.176, 22.468 16 4.80 (0.59) 3.47 (0.33) 1.32 (0.11) 0.71 (0.03) 0.600 (0.084) 1
36 Aukštumala bog 55.380, 21.367 16 4.60 (0.43) 3.31 (0.38) 1.25 (0.12) 0.67 (0.05) 0.479 (0.087) 0
3

Fig. 3. Plot of Coordinate 1 vs. Coordinate 2 obtained by principal coordinates analysis (PCoA) based on of pairwise unbiased Nei genetic distances between Vaccinum vitis-idaea populations. Population numbers as in Table 3. Variation explained by axis 1: 23.89%, axis 2: 20.34%.

Table 4. Genetic diversity parameters obtained using EST-SSR markers in the analysed Vaccinum uliginosum populations.
Population number Population Coordinates
(N, E) 		No. of individuals Total no. of fragments No. of polymorphic fragments Average Unbiased Expected
heterozygosity (SE) 		Average PIC
(SE) 		No. of unique
fragments
Latvia
1 Sala 56.524, 25.727 24 110 109 0.117 (0.011) 0.247 (0.016) 0
2 Zalvīte 56.372, 25.208 26 96 95 0.116 (0.012) 0.264 (0.018) 0
3 Kurmene 56.427, 24.817 24 100 99 0.111 (0.011) 0.246 (0.016) 0
4 Inčukalns 57.084, 24.676 42 108 107 0.115 (0.011) 0.246 (0.017) 0
5 Līvāni 56.415, 26.282 48 124 124 0.12 (0.011) 0.219 (0.015) 0
6 Saka 56.869, 21.302 20 93 93 0.116 (0.011) 0.275 (0.018) 0
7 Embūte 56.461, 21.887 21 86 85 0.106 (0.011) 0.275 (0.019) 0
8 Īvande 57.005, 21.795 24 89 88 0.115 (0.012) 0.287 (0.019) 0
9 Melnsils 57.540, 22.740 22 90 89 0.108 (0.011) 0.269 (0.019) 0
10 Viļaka 57.155, 27.537 22 97 97 0.117 (0.011) 0.275 (0.018) 1
11 Alūksne 57.404, 27.269 23 69 68 0.104 (0.013) 0.293 (0.022) 0
12 Gulbene 57.217, 26.594 24 91 90 0.109 (0.011) 0.266 (0.019) 0
13 Ugāle 57.250, 22.033 23 99 98 0.107 (0.011) 0.249 (0.017) 1
14 Brocēni 56.656, 22.675 22 100 100 0.118 (0.012) 0.256 (0.017) 2
15 Kalnciems 56.803, 23.478 24 94 93 0.108 (0.011) 0.257 (0.018) 0
16 Ķegums 56.691, 24.669 24 87 87 0.109 (0.012) 0.268 (0.018) 0
17 Beberbeķu parks 56.952, 23.957  24 91 90 0.105 (0.011) 0.264 (0.018) 0
18 Daugavas dzirnavas 56.609, 24.891 14 78 77 0.112 (0.012) 0.308 (0.021) 0
19 Neveja 57.564, 22.307 56 114 113 0.11 (0.011) 0.228 (0.016) 0
20 Oleri 57.797, 25.473 46 106 105 0.11 (0.011) 0.234 (0.017) 0
21 Jumurda 56.975, 25.723 26 95 94 0.106 (0.011) 0.258 (0.018) 1
22 Lubāna 56.900, 26.762 41 107 106 0.114 (0.011) 0.244 (0.017) 0
Estonia
23 Korvemaa 59.285, 25.611 16 86 85 0.115 (0.012) 0.291 (0.019) 0
24 Tooma 58.876, 26.272 15 96 95 0.116 (0.011) 0.281 (0.018) 1
25 Lehtmetsa 59.203, 25.600 15 79 78 0.115 (0.012) 0.310 (0.021) 0
26 Nigula 58.007, 24.714 16 93 92 0.115 (0.011) 0.279 (0.018) 1
27 Rannametsa 58.134, 24.512 13 77 76 0.108 (0.012) 0.306 (0.021) 0
Lithuania
28 Motiejunai 55.051, 24.485 11 65 63 0.102 (0.013) 0.316 (0.022) 1
29 Degutine forest 55.315, 25.738 15 90 89 0.112 (0.011) 0.273 (0.018) 0
30 Zapyškis forest 54.898, 23.613 10 73 72 0.115 (0.013) 0.320 (0.021) 0
31 Romuldava forest 55.598, 25.213 15 83 82 0.112 (0.012) 0.282 (0.019) 1
32 Labanoras forest 55.217, 25.662 14 75 74 0.109 (0.012) 0.304 (0.021) 0
33 Novaraistis 54.959, 23.373 16 66 65 0.092 (0.011) 0.294 (0.021) 0
34 Viešvile NR 55.176, 22.468 14 79 78 0.117 (0.013) 0.305 (0.021) 0
35 Aukštumala bog 55.380, 21.367 16 87 86 0.113 (0.011) 0.286 (0.018) 1
4

Fig. 4. Plot of Coordinate 1 vs. Coordinate 2 obtained by principal coordinates analysis (PCoA) based on pairwise unbiased Nei genetic distances between Vaccinum uliginosum populations. Population numbers as in Table 4. Variation explained by axis 1: 48.48%, axis 2: 14.20%.

Table 5. Distribution (%) of chloroplast markers CP6 and ccmp7 alleles in Latvia, Estonia and Lithuania (%) in
Vaccinium species
    V. myrtillus   V. vitis-idaea   V. uliginosum
marker allele Latvia Estonia Lithuania allele Latvia Estonia Lithuania allele Latvia Estonia Lithuania
n 64 64 64 94 47 45
CP6   153 29.7 0 7.8 158 38.3 29.8 24.4
154 70.3 100 92.2 159 61.7 70.2 75.6
n 169 28 36 103 52 82
ccmp7         116 0.6 121 79.6 73.1 83.1
  117 89.3 82.1 86.1 122 3.2
  120 9.5 17.9 13.9 123 20.4 26.9 13.7
  121 0.6