Kuisys, T., Naugžemys, D., Skridaila, A., Žilinskaitė, S. and Žvingila, D. 2007. Random Amplified Polymorphic DNA Analysis of Genetic Diversity of Taxus baccata L. in Provenances of Baltic Sea Countries. Baltic Forestry 13 (2): 184-189

Taxus baccata L. is extinct species in natural stands of Lithuania and rare in neighbouring states. The paper presents a study of genetic diversity of Taxus baccata growing in natural populations close allocated to Lithuanian border in neighbouring Baltic Sea countries. The main aim of this investigation was to assess genetic based possibilities of regeneration of Taxus baccata population in Lithuanian forests. In this study we used RAPD markers to assess genetic diversity of 58 T. baccata samples of provenances from Latvia, Lithuania, Poland and Russian Kaliningrad region. We identified 58 RAPD profiles on the basis of 64 amplified DNA fragments. 73.4% of RAPD bands were polymorphic. Four provenance specific bands were identified. Results demonstrate rather high level of DNA polymorphism and genetic differentiation of studied T. baccata provenances.

Key words:Taxus baccata L., provenances, RAPDs, genetic diversity