Conservation of Quercus robur L. Genetic resources in its south-eastern refugium using SSR marker system – A case study from Vojvodina province, Serbia

Pedunculate oak, Quercus robur L., represents one of the most valuable tree species in Serbia and is mainly found in the Northern part of the country (Vojvodina province). These forests are among the most extensive pedunculate oak forests in the southern part of the distribution range in the Western Balkans. Serbian oak forests are under pressure due to climate change as well as affected by abiotic and biotic factors causing damage to stands since the 1950s. goal of current forest management is to ensure sustainability despite climate change and disturbances. The aim of this study was to estimate inter- and intra-population genetic variability of Q. robur using molecular markers (12 SSRs) and phenotypic traits to obtain the first genetic profile of the Pedunculate oak gene pool in Serbia. Our results indicated that individuals of pedunculate oak from Vojvodina province of Serbia showed higher expected heterozygosity (H_e) and number of migrants in comparison to other studies in Europe. The two sampled subpopulations of Q. robur had a highly diverse gene pool compared to other European populations. Suggestions for in-situ and ex-situ conservation were made in concordance with EUFORGEN’s technical guidelines on conservation and use of pedunculate oak in Europe.