<i>Juniperus excelsa</i> s. str. in crimea – differentiation and history inferred from genetic and morphological markers

Abstract Juniperus excelsa s. str. (Greek juniper) in Crimea is a relic species on the limits of its range, and represents Mediterranean flora Sub-Mediterranean part peninsula. Its origin history this area remains unresolved. We aimed to analyze phylogeny potential demographic expansion juniper as well study morphological differentiation. analyzed plant material from 59 trees inhabiting eight populations. Genetic variation assessments were based four non-coding chloroplast DNA (cpDNA) fragments nuclear internal transcribed spacer region ITS1-5,8S-ITS2 (ITS). To examine differentiation, measured/counted traits cones, seeds, shoots chosen ratios calculated. Morphological parameters compared using ANOVA, Student’s t test, discrimination analysis Kruskal-Wallis U Mann-Whitney tests. Two cpDNA polymorphic and, total, 10 haplotypes found. Haplotype diversity (H d ) ranged 0.0 0.9. Based both ITS sequences variation, phylogenetic analyses revealed close relationship Crimean junipers individuals other parts range. In general, our molecular results confirmed low level genetic differentiation J. different likely resulting common ancestry. Only slight differences found between populations with geographic location or habitat. The analyzes showed distinctness southern coast. Some unique features coastal imply that they are remnants Late Pleistocene abundant forests. suggest recent fragmentation Peninsula could have arisen during Atlantic period Holocene.