Integrative ecological and genetic monitoring of cloudberry (Rubus chamaemorus L.) populations on the southern border of the European and North American area (in Belarus and Minnesota)

Abstract

The subjects of the study are the populations of Rubiis chamaemorus L. (cloudberry) in Belarus and the state of Minnesota (USA), where this circumpolar boreal species reaches the southern boundary of the distribution area and is protected by state (Minnesota) and national (Belarus) governments. There arc 17 known places of growth of R. chamaemorus in 14 administrative districts in Belarus and only 7 locations in Minnesota. In the context of global climate change, the study of such low-lalitude edge populations, which arc extremely important for the long-term survival and maintenance of the genetic diversity of the species, is particularly relevant as it helps to clarify the history and phylogeography of its distribution on the local landscape, and generally to assess the evolutionary potential of the species across its whole range [1]. The purpose and objectives of this study were to conduct integrated ecological and genetic studies: 1). to obtain quantitative and qualitative characteristics of the ecological parameters of habitat and the state of cloudberry populations in Belarus and Minnesota; 2). to develop an effective system for detecting variability of genomic DNA at the intra- and interpopulation levels using AFLP and SRAP markers aimed at identification of the genetic diversity (GD) parameters of populations.