Article

Allozyme, DNA markers, sequence data and monoterpenes have been used to clarify the genetic and taxonomic relationships between different populations of Abies alba Mill. and the only existing population of Abies nebrodensis (Lojac.) Mattei , a relict fir restricted to a single locality in Sicily. A high level of differentiation was found using ali the different approaches. The genetic distance between A. nebrodensis and the group of A. alba populations was found to be much greater than that among A. alba populations located more than 1000 km apart. The results provide support for the considering A. nebrodensis and A. alba as distinct taxonomic entities.