Spatial structure of genetic variability in natural stands of Fagus sylvatica L (beech) in Italy

We report an autocorrelation study of 11 enzyme loci detected by starch gel electrophoresis in 14 populations over the Italian biogeographical range of beech (Fagus sylvatica L.). In line with previous studies of beech and other forest tree species a low level of spatial autocorrelation was detected. No correlation between the amount of microspatial structuring of genetic variability in different populations and environmental (latitude, longitude, altitude), structural (mean and standard deviation of tree size) and genetic characteristics (mean expected heterozygosity, mean F-IS) was found. No significant differences in the amount of spatial structuring seem to exist among loci if low heterozygosity loci are excluded from the analysis.