Historic translocations of European larch (Larix decidua Mill.) genetic resources across Europe - A review from the 17th until the mid-20th century

- Pan-European data on historic human mediated gene flow of European larch.
- Insights on larch provenances used in Europe between the 17th and mid-20th century.
- Geographical maps illustrating historic European larch translocations.
- Historic larch seed transfer affecting current populations and gene conservation.

For the first time we have reviewed historic data throughout Europe to assess how European larch has been artificially distributed from the 17th until the mid-20th century. Over this period, larch genetic resources have been translocated with varying intensity. Especially Alpine plant material was transferred outside the native range across Europe, while genetic resources originating from the Sudetes were mainly spread to northeastern Germany, northwestern Poland, and to the Sudetes outside of the species' native range. Polish larch was mainly translocated within Poland. Genetic resources from the Carpathian Mountains (Tatras, eastern and southern Carpathians) were not used for long-distance transfer. While native larch populations in the Alps and in Poland were not significantly affected by allochthonous plant material, the native gene pool of larch in the Sudetes and Carpathians Mountains was strongly altered by Alpine plant material. We provide several maps illustrating these translocations over time and space. These findings are of special importance, as genetic data tracking the original seed source are presently not available.