Genetic Diversity of Black Locust Stands in Lithuania Revealed

Research conducted by Sinilga Cernuliene and colleagues at the Faculty of Environmental Engineering in Lithuania has shed light on the genetic diversity of black locust stands in the region. The study, published in Applied Biosciences, found that black locust trees in Lithuania are genetically diverse, with an average allele number per plot of 3.66 and an average heterozygosity (Ho) of 0.83. The research also revealed that black locust trees in the studied plots form tight clonal groups that rarely intermix with each other, and that the trees also spread through seeds.

Key Takeaways:

• The study employed four nuclear SSR loci (Rops 02, Rops 05, Rops 06, and Rops 08) to investigate the genetic diversity of five black locust plots in Lithuania.
• The results show that black locust trees in Lithuania are genetically diverse, with an average allele number per plot of 3.66 and an average Ho of 0.83.
• Black locust trees in the studied plots form tight clonal groups that hardly intermix with each other.
• The trees also spread through seeds, with 66 single-copy genotypes found in total in all 5 investigated plots.
• The study found that black locust stands in Lithuania originate from different seed sources and introduction events, as revealed by the allelic pattern, genetic diversity, and genetic differentiation among the research plots.
• Sinilga Cernuliene and colleagues investigated the genetic diversity of selected black locust stands in Lithuania in districts with the highest black locust stands frequency.
• The study's findings have implications for the management and conservation of black locust stands in Lithuania.

Statistics:

• Average allele number per plot: 3.66
• Average heterozygosity (Ho): 0.83
• Number of single-copy genotypes found: 66
• Number of research plots investigated: 5
• Number of SSR loci employed: 4

Sources:

• Cernuliene, S., et al. (2025). Evolution of the Genetic Diversity and Spatial Distribution of Self-Establishing Black Locust (Robinia Pseudoacacia L.) Stands. Applied Biosciences, 4(3), 33. doi: 10.3390/applbiosci4030033
• "Faculty of Environmental Engineering Researchers Reveal New Findings on Applied Biosciences [Evolution of the Genetic Diversity and Spatial Distribution of Self-Establishing Black Locust (* Robinia Pseudoacacia* L.) Stands]." NewsRx, October 14, 2025; p 749.