Comparative analysis of genetic structure in natural populations of two Arabidopsis species with different degree of panmixia

Comparative analysis of genetic structure of northern natural populations of two Arabidopsis species with different degrees of panmixia was performed. The variability of 121 RAPD loci in seven populations of model plant A. thaliana possessing high degree of self fertility was studied together with 93 RAPD loci in population of cross-pollinating species A. lyrata ssp. petraea. The population of A. l. petraea demonstrated higher level of genetic variability (P99% = 62.50%; Hexp = 0.169) than the populations of A. thaliana, which is obviously connected with biological features of reproduction of the species. A significant level of genetic variability (P99% = 42.27%; Hexp = 0.126) was revealed in populations of A. thaliana, which is not typical for self-pollinating plant species. The high population polymorphism of A. thaliana in the northern part of its range may be connected with adverse environmental conditions. The genetic distances between populations of the species studied (average DN = 0.494) confirm close relatedness between A. thaliana and A. l. petraea.