Molecular diversity analysis of deciduous pubescent oaks was conducted for populations from Calabria, Sicily and Sardinia. The aims of this study were twofold. First, to provide data on the genetic diversity of pubescent oaks from an understudied area which currently exhibits one of the highest concentrations of pubescent oak species in Europe. Second, to verify if these groups of oaks are genetically distinct and if their identification is in accordance with the current taxonomic classification. Molecular analyses of leaf material of 480 trees from seventeen populations belonging to putatively different pubescent oak species (Quercus amplifolia, Q. congesta, Q. dalechampii, Q. ichnusae, Q. leptobalanos, Q. virgiliana) were performed. Twelve gene-based Expressed Sequence Tag-Simple Sequence Repeat markers were selected, and genetic diversity and differentiation were calculated. The results showed relatively high values of allelic richness, heterozygosity and number of private alleles for the populations investigated. A weak but positive correlation between geographical and genetic distance was detected. Genetic assignment (STRUCTURE) and principle coordinate analyses exhibited a weak separation into two genetic groups which, however, did not correspond to the taxonomic, chorological and ecological features of the populations investigated. Sardinian populations formed one group which was separated from the Calabrian and Sicilian populations. In light of the results obtained, the taxonomic classification for the pubescent white oaks currently reported in the major Italian floras and checklists for the study area was not confirmed by molecular analyses.

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意大利南部、西西里岛和撒丁岛的青春期白橡树的遗传多样性是否支持当前的分类学分类？

对来自卡拉布里亚、西西里和撒丁岛的种群进行落叶短柔毛橡树的分子多样性分析。这项研究的目的是双重的。首先，提供来自一个未被充分研究的地区的短柔橡树的遗传多样性数据，该地区目前是欧洲短柔橡树物种浓度最高的地区之一。其次，验证这些橡树组在遗传上是否不同，以及它们的识别是否符合当前的分类学分类。对来自 17 个种群的 480 棵树的叶材料进行了分子分析，这些树木属于假定的不同短柔毛橡树种（Quercus amplifolia、Q. congesta、Q. dalechampii、Q. ichnusae、Q. leptobalanos、Q. virgiliana）。选择了十二个基于基因的表达序列标签-简单序列重复标记，并计算遗传多样性和分化。结果显示所调查的人群的等位基因丰富度、杂合性和私有等位基因数量的值相对较高。检测到地理距离和遗传距离之间存在微弱但正相关的关系。遗传分配 (STRUCTURE) 和主要坐标分析表现出弱分离成两个遗传组，然而，这与所研究种群的分类学、生态学和生态学特征不符。撒丁岛人口形成了一个与卡拉布里亚和西西里人分开的群体。根据获得的结果，目前在意大利主要植物群和研究区域清单中报告的短柔毛白橡树的分类学分类没有通过分子分析得到证实。