Al-Omari, A., Department of Plant Production, Mu'tah University, P.O. Box 7, Karak, Jordan
Zyadin, A.F., Department of Plant Production, Mu'tah University, P.O. Box 7, Karak, Jordan
 

Analysis of the genetic diversity within and differentiation among 24 spontaneous occurrences of Q. calliprimnos in Israel (22) and Jordan (2) was done by means of Random Amplified Polymorphic DNA analysis (RAPD) with 10 primers that produced 23 detectable DNA fragments (alleles). The results revealed that the overall total genetic diversity for the species (Ht) was 0.354, the overall within-population diversity (Hs) was 0.325, and the overall proportion of differences between populations (Gst) was 0.081. The Um Reichan population had the lowest and the Dir Razach population the highest within-population gene diversity. Small but significant differentiation between the main geographic regions in Israel was found. Comparisons between populations revealed that, on average, each population of the 24 that were analyzed differed significantly from 13 ± 5 populations randomly distributed in the country. Three populations, Park Goren, Tzafririm, and Dir Razach, differed significantly from most or all of the other populations analyzed, whereas the Park Ha'Sharon, Mt. Amiad, and Beit Ha'Emeq populations were similar to most of the populations. © 2006 Science from Israel/LPPLtd.