Short Note: Development of Mitochondrial Markers for Population Genetics of Norway Spruce [Picea abies (L.) Karst.]

Norway spruce is an important commercial tree species in northern and central Europe. Pure mitochondrial DNA isolated from tissue culture materials grown in the dark were used to construct a partial mitochondrial library. 100 clones were randomly selected and 19 markers were isolated. Three of these markers proved to be polymorphic and two showed maternal inheritance in controlled crosses. These markers will be useful for population genetic studies in P. abies.