CHESTNUT TRADE - A NEW ASPECT IN THE STUDY OF THE GENETIC DIFFERENTIATION OF CHESTNUT-TREE (CASTANEA-SATIVA MILL) POPULATIONS IN FRANCE

Five chestnut-tree populations located in France have been analysed for 3 polymorphic enzymatic markers. The genetic distance between pairs of populations is evaluated by the technique of Mahalanobis (Anderson, 1958). At a given genetic similarity threshold, 2 geographic groups of populations are observed, one situated in the west, the other in the east of France. Furthermore, a large genetic similarity appears between populations at a distance of more than 800 km. Some historical events give answers. Chestnut trade over the centuries could explain our genetic results. Thus, it appears clearly that human activities have been essential in the establishment of chestnut-tree populations in France.