An isozyme study in bilberry (vaccinium-myrtillus). 2. Mating system and genetic structure

Vaccinium myrtillus (bilberry) is an important component of temperate heathland vegetation in Northern Europe, yet little is known concerning basic aspects related to its breeding system and genetic variability. In this study, one metapopulation of bilberry (Vaccinium myrtillus L.) was studied in the Upper Ardennes, Belgium, over a period of 3 years in order to estimate outcrossing rates by means of isozyme starch gel electrophoresis. Moreover, this population, along with nine other Belgian populations (in 1992) and three other European populations (in 1993) were sampled for their genetic variability, still by isozyme techniques. The results show that bilberry has a mixed-mating system and levels of genetic variation equivalent to that in other clonal species with sexual reproduction.