Genetic relationship between three Himalayan pines of Indian occurrence

Abstract

The genus Pinus is one of the most widely distributed genera of conifers in the Northern Hemisphere. In India seven species of pines viz., Pinus roxburghii, P. wallichiana, P. armandi, P. gerardiana, P. kesiya, P. bhutanica and P. merkusii are known to occur in the Himalayas. However only four species viz., P. roxburghii, P. wallichiana, P. gerardiana and P. kesiya contribute significantly to the economy of the country and protect the watersheds. The positions of several endemic species as well as relationships among and between Asian pines are still not well settled [1-4].