Norway spruce, the only species belonging to the genus Picea in Italy, is one of the most important species in Northern Italy under economical and ecological point of view. On the Alps, Norway spruce is the dominant species between 1,500 and 1,900 meters a.s.l. (ca. 264,000 ha) but it can be found in mixed stands up to 2,100 mt a.s.l. and as low as 900-1,000 m a.s.l. Overall, Norway spruce has been estimated to cover of 380,500 ha, that is about one-third of the conifer forest coverage in Italy. Up-to-date, most of the genetic studies carried out in Italy on Norway spruce were concerned on the description of the genetic structure of their populations and to the inventory of genetic resources. 14.3.1 - Population studies and genetic inventory Several studies on genetic variability of wild populations of Norway spruce in Italy have been carried out in the last few years. Morphological traits, allozymes and DNA markers have been utilized in these investigations. The goals of these researches can be summarized into three basic questions: (1) Are the Italian Norway spruce stands different from other provenances? Are they worth to be conserved as genetic resources? (2) How is distributed the genetic variability across Norway spruce's natural range in Italy? (3) How is distributed the genetic variability within Norway spruce natural populations? Several issues related to the above questions are discussed.
The genus Picea
Bucci G;
1998
Abstract
Norway spruce, the only species belonging to the genus Picea in Italy, is one of the most important species in Northern Italy under economical and ecological point of view. On the Alps, Norway spruce is the dominant species between 1,500 and 1,900 meters a.s.l. (ca. 264,000 ha) but it can be found in mixed stands up to 2,100 mt a.s.l. and as low as 900-1,000 m a.s.l. Overall, Norway spruce has been estimated to cover of 380,500 ha, that is about one-third of the conifer forest coverage in Italy. Up-to-date, most of the genetic studies carried out in Italy on Norway spruce were concerned on the description of the genetic structure of their populations and to the inventory of genetic resources. 14.3.1 - Population studies and genetic inventory Several studies on genetic variability of wild populations of Norway spruce in Italy have been carried out in the last few years. Morphological traits, allozymes and DNA markers have been utilized in these investigations. The goals of these researches can be summarized into three basic questions: (1) Are the Italian Norway spruce stands different from other provenances? Are they worth to be conserved as genetic resources? (2) How is distributed the genetic variability across Norway spruce's natural range in Italy? (3) How is distributed the genetic variability within Norway spruce natural populations? Several issues related to the above questions are discussed.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
