Epigenetic and Genetic Variability in Contrasting Latitudinal Fagus sylvatica L. Provenances

The adaptive capacity of a species and its population is determined by both genetic epigenetic variation, which defines the potential for evolution plastic response to environmental changes. In this study, we used Methylation Sensitive Amplified Polymorphism (MSAP) Fragment Length (AFLP), similar genome-wide profiling techniques, analyze variability in European beech provenances from Germany (DE), Spain (ES) Sweden (SE), representing latitudinal distribution species. addition, evaluated effect moderate water stress on cytosine methylation dynamics comparing two contrasting provenances. Our analysis revealed that trees ES showed lower values diversity than those DE SE. Analyses molecular variance MSAPs AFLPs 16% 15% among variations were associated with respectively. study seedlings SE no significant levels differentiation between well-watered stressed plants. Only 2% variation was explained watering regime without changes results support DNA may play role local adaptation Fagus sylvatica variation.