Genetic diversity and structure of cultivated and wild chestnut populations in Japan

Japanese chestnut (Castanea crenata Sieb. et Zucc.) is the only fruit tree species that had been domesticated in Japan and had been involved in human life from ancient time. For chestnut, gene flow from cultivars to natural stands is common, which hinders a correct interpretation of genetic diversity. To clarify genetic relationship and history of chestnut, population structure, analyses of direction of gene flow and demography analyses were conducted using 4 cultivar and 41 wild populations.