Mating system analysis in two Italian populations of Norway spruce

The mating system was analysed in two Italian populations of Picea abies K., an isolated and narrow sized population (Campolino), and a marginal one (Meledrio Valley). The multilocus outcrossing rates of the two populations were 0.824 and 0.843 respectively. The estimated values were lower than those found in other Italian populations by the analysis of the same loci. Mean single locus estimates were considerably lower than the multilocus ones. These differences might be attributed to clustering of related individuals, and consequent mating among relatives. Fixation indices were positive in the filial generation but not in the parental one. This may be caused by an early selection against inbreed progeny.