2008, vol. 59, 13–22 Heike Liesebach, Zoltán Sinkó A contribution to the systematics of the genus Tilia with respect to some hybrids by RAPD analysis Received: 02 January 2008, Accepted: 28 March 2008 Abstract: The putative hybridcharacter of two Tilia varieties selectedas avenue trees (‘Szent Istvan’ and‘K3’) shouldbe clarifiedfor further breedingactivities. Their ancestor species shouldbe identifiedbya genetic comparison with reference material (Tilia cordata, T. platyphyllos, T. dasystyla, T. × euchlora, T. × europaea and others). RAPD marker data were evaluated by UPGMA cluster and neighbour-joining analysis. The genetic comparison of the two selectedclones with the collection of reference material offers insights into some sys- tematic relationships within the genus Tilia. It was supplemented by a critical discussion of methods of RAPD data evaluation for taxonomic purposes. Additional key words: Tilia L.; linden; taxonomy; hybrids; DNA; UPGMA cluster analysis; neighbour-join- ing; resampling Addresses: H. Liesebach, Institute of Forest Genetics, Johann Heinrich von Thünen-Institute (vTI), Federal Research Institute for Rural Areas, Forestry and Fisheries, Eberswalder Chaussee 3A, 15377 Waldsievers- dorf, Germany, e-mail:
[email protected] Z. Sinkó, Nursery Prenor, Béke tér 1, 9707 Szombathely-Herény, Hungary Introduction plantings were undertaken more for ornamental rea- sons. Since the 1960s, T. cordata Miller and T. Trees andshrubs of the genus Tilia L. (Malvaceae) platyphyllos Scop. were increasingly replacedby T. were foundin the forests of the northern hemisphere tomentosa Moench and T. × euchlora K. Koch from in Europe, Asia andEastern North America andCen - southeast Europe andthe Caucasian region because tral America. They are growing in temperate, sub- of their better adequacy to urban conditions in Cen- tropical andtropical climates andoccur from moist to tral Europe.