To learn more about the map elements, please download the "Pan-European strategy for genetic conservation of forest trees"
This distribution map has been developed by the European Commission Joint Research Centre (partly based on the EUFORGEN map) and released under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC-BY 4.0)
Caudullo, G., Welk, E., San-Miguel-Ayanz, J., 2017. Chorological maps for the main European woody species. Data in Brief 12, 662-666. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.dib.2017.05.007
The following experts have contributed to the development of the EUFORGEN distribution maps:
Fazia Krouchi (Algeria), Hasmik Ghalachyan (Armenia), Thomas Geburek (Austria), Berthold Heinze (Austria), Rudi Litschauer (Austria), Rudolf Litschauer (Austria), Michael Mengl (Austria), Ferdinand Müller (Austria), Franz Starlinger (Austria), Valida Ali-zade (Azerbaijan), Vahid Djalal Hajiyev (Azerbaijan), Karen Cox (Belgium), Bart De Cuyper (Belgium), Olivier Desteucq (Belgium), Patrick Mertens (Belgium), Jos Van Slycken (Belgium), An Vanden Broeck (Belgium), Kristine Vander Mijnsbrugge (Belgium), Dalibor Ballian (Bosnia and Herzegovina), Alexander H. Alexandrov (Bulgaria), Alexander Delkov (Bulgaria), Ivanova Denitsa Pandeva (Bulgaria), Peter Zhelev Stoyanov (Bulgaria), Joso Gracan (Croatia), Marilena Idzojtic (Croatia), Mladen Ivankovic (Croatia), Željka Ivanović (Croatia), Davorin Kajba (Croatia), Hrvoje Marjanovic (Croatia), Sanja Peric (Croatia), Andreas Christou (Cyprus), Xenophon Hadjikyriacou (Cyprus), Václav Buriánek (Czech Republic), Jan Chládek (Czech Republic), Josef Frýdl (Czech Republic), Petr Novotný (Czech Republic), Martin Slovacek (Czech Republic), Zdenek Špišek (Czech Republic), Karel Vancura (Czech Republic), Ulrik Bräuner (Denmark), Bjerne Ditlevsen (Denmark), Jon Kehlet Hansen (Denmark), Jan Svejgaard Jensen (Denmark), Kalev Jðgiste (Estonia), Tiit Maaten (Estonia), Raul Pihu (Estonia), Ülo Tamm (Estonia), Arvo Tullus (Estonia), Aivo Vares (Estonia), Teijo Nikkanen (Finland), Sanna Paanukoski (Finland), Mari Rusanen (Finland), Pekka Vakkari (Finland), Leena Yrjänä (Finland), Daniel Cambon (France), Eric Collin (France), Alexis Ducousso (France), Bruno Fady (France), François Lefèvre (France), Brigitte Musch (France), Sylvie Oddou-Muratorio (France), Luc E. Pâques (France), Julien Saudubray (France), Marc Villar (France), Vlatko Andonovski (FYR Macedonia), Dragi Pop-Stojanov (FYR Macedonia), Merab Machavariani (Georgia), Irina Tvauri (Georgia), Alexander Urushadze (Georgia), Bernd Degen (Germany), Jochen Kleinschmit (Germany), Armin König (Germany), Armin König (Germany), Volker Schneck (Germany), Richard Stephan (Germany), H. H. Kausch-Blecken Von Schmeling (Germany), Georg von Wühlisch (Germany), Iris Wagner (Germany), Heino Wolf (Germany), Paraskevi Alizoti (Greece), Filippos Aravanopoulos (Greece), Andreas Drouzas (Greece), Despina Paitaridou (Greece), Aristotelis C. Papageorgiou (Greece), Kostas Thanos (Greece), Sándor Bordács (Hungary), Csaba Mátyás (Hungary), László Nagy (Hungary), Thröstur Eysteinsson (Iceland), Adalsteinn Sigurgeirsson (Iceland), Halldór Sverrisson (Iceland), John Fennessy (Ireland), Ellen O'Connor (Ireland), Fulvio Ducci (Italy), Silvia Fineschi (Italy), Bartolomeo Schirone (Italy), Marco Cosimo Simeone (Italy), Giovanni Giuseppe Vendramin (Italy), Lorenzo Vietto (Italy), Janis Birgelis (Latvia), Virgilijus Baliuckas (Lithuania), Kestutis Cesnavicius (Lithuania), Darius Danusevicius (Lithuania), Valmantas Kundrotas (Lithuania), Alfas Pliûra (Lithuania), Darius Raudonius (Lithuania), Robert du Fays (Luxembourg), Myriam Heuertz (Luxembourg), Claude Parini (Luxembourg), Fred Trossen (Luxembourg), Frank Wolter (Luxembourg), Joseph Buhagiar (Malta), Eman Calleja (Malta), Ion Palancean (Moldova), Dragos Postolache (Moldova), Gheorghe Postolache (Moldova), Hassan Sbay (Morocco), Tor Myking (Norway), Tore Skrøppa (Norway), Anna Gugala (Poland), Jan Kowalczyk (Poland), Czeslaw Koziol (Poland), Jan Matras (Poland), Zbigniew Sobierajski (Poland), Maria Helena Almeida (Portugal), Filipe Costa e Silva (Portugal), Luís Reis (Portugal), Maria Carolina Varela (Portugal), Ioan Blada (Romania), Alexandru-Lucian Curtu (Romania), Lucian Dinca (Romania), Georgeta Mihai (Romania), Mihai Olaru (Romania), Gheorghe Parnuta (Romania), Natalia Demidova (Russian Federation), Mikhail V. Pridnya (Russian Federation), Andrey Prokazin (Russian Federation), Srdjan Bojovic (Serbia) , Vasilije Isajev (Serbia), Saša Orlovic (Serbia), Rudolf Bruchánik (Slovakia), Roman Longauer (Slovakia), Ladislav Paule (Slovakia), Gregor Bozič (Slovenia), Robert Brus (Slovenia), Katarina Celič (Slovenia), Hojka Kraigher (Slovenia), Andrej Verlič (Slovenia), Marjana Westergren (Slovenia), Ricardo Alía (Spain), Josefa Fernández-López (Spain), Luis Gil Sanchez (Spain), Pablo Gonzalez Goicoechea (Spain), Santiago C. González-Martínez (Spain), Sonia Martin Albertos (Spain), Eduardo Notivol Paino (Spain), María Arantxa Prada (Spain), Alvaro Soto de Viana (Spain), Lennart Ackzell (Sweden), Jonas Bergquist (Sweden), Sanna Black-Samuelsson (Sweden), Jonas Cedergren (Sweden), Gösta Eriksson (Sweden), Markus Bolliger (Switzerland), Felix Gugerli (Switzerland), Rolf Holderegger (Switzerland), Peter Rotach (Switzerland), Marcus Ulber (Switzerland), Sven M.G. de Vries (The Netherlands), Khouja Mohamed Larbi (Tunisia), Murat Alan (Turkey), Gaye Kandemir (Turkey), Gursel Karagöz (Turkey), Zeki Kaya (Turkey), Hasan Özer (Turkey), Hacer Semerci (Turkey), Ferit Toplu (Turkey), Mykola M. Vedmid (Ukraine), Roman T. Volosyanchuk (Ukraine), Stuart A'Hara (United Kingdom), Joan Cottrell (United Kingdom), Colin Edwards (United Kingdom), Michael Frankis (United Kingdom), Jason Hubert (United Kingdom), Karen Russell (United Kingdom), C.J.A. Samuel (United Kingdom).
Status of Prunus avium conservation in Europe
No information available.
There is only weak genetic structuring in natural wild cherry populations. However, while French populations showed no spatial genetic structuring, Slovakian and British populations did (Vaughan et al., 2007). Spatial genetic structuring in unmanaged stands may be the result of a high degree of asexual recruitment, meaning individual trees will be closely related to neighbouring trees or be clones (Vaughan et al., 2007).
Typically, differentiation among European populations is low. However, Italian populations show relatively high genetic differentiation (De Rogatis et al., 2013). Italy was likely a centre of dispersion for wild cherry, with many glacial refugia conserving a higher number of alleles (De Rogatis et al., 2013). However, Italian wild cherry also does not show clear structuring of genetic variability (De Rogatis et al., 2013). There are genetic differences between central and south-east European provenances, suggesting different colonization routes following the glacial period (Russell, 2003).
Sweet cherry is typically an out-crossing species and is widely distributed, including commercial and garden varieties (Wünsch and Hormaza, 2004). However, pollen and seed dispersal is limited to les than 100 m and wild cherry frequently propagates vegetatively through root suckering (Vaughan et al., 2007; De Rogatis et al., 2013).
The bibliographic review was conducted by James Chaplin of the EUFORGEN Secretariat in August 2024.
Widespread use of wild cherry for reforestation and afforestation in 1970s was based on material of unknown origin and introduced domestic trees into wild populations (De Rogatis et al., 2013). Human influence on wild cherry has affected the general distribution, genetic structure, and diversity of wild cherry (De Rogatis et al., 2013). Natural wild cherry populations have higher genetic diversity than cultivated forms (De Rogatis et al., 2013).
Within Spain there is clear separation between old traditional cultivars and more genetically rich recent cultivars that have been introduced (Wünsch and Hormaza, 2004). Traditional management favours the maintenance of clonal lineages through practices such as coppicing, encouraging vegetative reproduction (De Rogatis et al., 2013). Vegetative reproduction from root suckering can significantly lower genetic variation within populations (Russell, 2003). Differentiation among breeding zones also clearly indicates the effect of human management on wild cherry genetic diversity, even though genetic structuring is not linked to geographical locations of breeding zones (De Rogatis et al., 2013).
The bibliographic review was conducted by James Chaplin of the EUFORGEN Secretariat in August 2024.
On a European scale, wild cherry is not an endangered species. However, due to its generally scattered and rare occurrence, the genetic diversity of populations is under threat. Threats include felling and destruction of habitat, transfer of seed from areas with different ecological conditions, collection of seed from a small number of seed stands, hybridization with sweet cherry, pests and diseases, pollution, climate change, low natural regeneration, and competition with other species (Russell, 2003; De Rogatis et al., 2013).
Several European countries have established progeny and clonal trials to determine the heritability of important silvicultural traits and to select trees for use in improvement programmes and clonal production (Russell, 2003). Where sufficiently large populations are available, in situ conservation efforts should focus on identifying core populations, linking them to avoid inbreeding, and prioritizing natural regeneration (Russell, 2003).
Scattered and marginal populations with few individuals will require ex situ conservation in orchards and clonal banks (Russell, 2003). Seed orchards should be developed where it is possible to collect clones from different sites, allowing the preservation of as much of the genetic diversity of scattered populations as possible (De Rogatis et al., 2013). These stands should be well protected from vermin, and isolated from sweet cherry and other cherry species to avoid hybridization (Russell, 2003). During establishment, weeds, pests, and diseases will have to be controlled, with pruning carried out to encourage a broad, open crown for fruiting (Russell, 2003).
The bibliographic review was conducted by James Chaplin of the EUFORGEN Secretariat in August 2024.
Genetic Characterisation of Prunus avium and its GCUs
Availability of FRM
FOREMATIS
Prunus avium - Technical guidelines for genetic conservation and use for wild cherry
Publication Year: 2003The objective of genetic conservation is to ensure the continued survival and adaptability of the species. Where sufficiently large populations are available, in situ conservation efforts should focus on identifying core populations of more than 20 distinct individuals. The natural regeneration of cherry trees should be a management priority. To avoid inbreeding depression, these core populations should ideally be linked by establishing new plantings using trees from other sources such as seed orchards or breeding populations with similar ecological conditions. Trees occurring at the extreme margins of the distribution range should also be conserved. However, as cherry grows in very scattered populations with relatively few individuals, the most effective conservation strategies are likely to be ex situ seed orchards and clonal banks.
Ex situ grafted clonal seed orchards should consist of at least 30 different genotypes from the same ecogeographic region. These should be established in locations favourable for growth and seed production, and should be well protected from vermin, and isolated from sweet cherry and other cherry species to avoid hybridization. Ten or so replicates per clone should be propagated onto healthy rootstocks. The use of dwarf rootstocks enables more intensive plantings of about 3 m rows with 5 m gaps, and also encourages precocious seed production. Other rootstocks will require wider spacing of 5 m x 5 m or more and may require thinning in later years. The seed orchard should be designed to ensure that a good mixture of clones is achieved. However, if the incompatibility alleles are known for each clone, they can be arranged to avoid planting incompatible genotypes next to each other. During the establishment years, full control of weeds, pests and diseases should be undertaken and pruning carried out to encourage a broad, open crown for fruiting. Seed should be collected throughout the orchard and supplied as a mixture to nurseries and growers. Regional seed orchards can form the basis of a Multiple Population Breeding System. Ideally, in MPBS, breeding population is subdivided into subpopulations which are then grown over a wide range of site conditions. Each subpopulation may have the same or different breeding goal.
Clonal banks should be established where the long-term future of the planting is secure. They should include a very broad range of genotypes, both geographically and genetically, e.g. superior timber trees with breeding potential as well as trees with conservation value and other species. Ideally, the accessions should be virus free, well documented and clearly labelled. A minimum of two replicates per clone should be planted. The rootstock used determines the spacing required, and the planting should ideally have a full management programme of weed, pest and disease control. Where possible, it should also be duplicated on another site. If trees die, they should be removed and replaced. The content of a clonal bank should be reviewed after several years and repropagated if necessary to ensure a healthy collection is maintained.
Provenance, progeny and clonal trials and demonstration plantings can also have potential conservation value. Encouraging the utilisation of wild cherry could also be important in promoting its planting and management.
Noble Hardwoods Network: Report of the first meeting
Noble Hardwood Network: Report on the fourth and fifth meeting
Noble Hardwoods Network: Report of the second meeting
Noble Hardwoods Network: Report of the sixth and seventh meeting
Contacts of experts
NA
Further reading
Lacis, G., Rashal, I., Ruisa, S., Trajkovski, V., and Iezzoni, A.F. 2009. Assessment of genetic diversity of Latvian and Swedish sweet cherry (Prunus avium L.) genetic resources collections by using SSR (microsatellite) markers. Scientia Horticulturae, 121(4): 451–457.
References
De Rogatis, A., Ferrazzini, D., Ducci, F., Guerri, S., Carnevale, S., and Belletti, P. 2013. Genetic variation in Italian wild cherry (Prunus avium L.) as characterized by nSSR markers. Forestry, 86(3): 391–400.
Russell, K. 2003. EUFORGEN Technical Guidelines for genetic conservation and use for wild cherry (Prunus avium). Rome, International Plant Genetic Resources Institute. 6 pages.
Vaughan, S.P., Cottrell, J.E., Moodley, D.J., Connolly, T., and Russell, K. 2007. Distribution and fine-scale spatial-genetic structure in British wild cherry (Prunus avium L.). Heredity, 98(5): 274–283.
Wünsch, A. and Hormaza, J.I. 2004. Molecular evaluation of genetic diversity and S-allele composition of local Spanish sweet cherry (Prunus avium L.) cultivars. Genetic Resources and Crop Evolution, 51(6): 635–641.
See details
Designed by Newtvision
