University of Tasmania, Australia

The aim of this study is to determine whether there is a signature of selection in genes affecting wood properties, through the molecular study of candidate genes from the lignin and cellulose biosynthetic pathway, in Eucalyptus globulus.

We used a statistical technique which involved comparing the level of differentiation (Fst) between putatively neutral (microsatellite) markers and single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) within candidate genes. We used a DNA collection originating from 368 trees from eight races distributed across the natural range of the species. These trees were genotypes with 18 microsatellite markers and also with 30 SNPs (showing no lin kage disequilibrium) from within 20 candidate genes. Strong signatures of selection were found in several genes which signifies that natural selection has shaped the genepool of this ecologically and economically important species.