International Journal of Biodiversity and Conservation Vol. 4(3), pp. 130-136, March 2012 Available online at http://www.academicjournals.org/IJBC DOI: 10.5897/IJBC11.187 ISSN 2141-243X ©2012 Academic Journals Full Length Research Paper Genetic variability of sacred fir (Abies religiosa) in the Nevado de Toluca National Park Rosa-Laura Heredia-Bobadilla 1 , Guadalupe Gutiérrez-González 1 , Sergio Franco-Maass 2 and Amaury-Martín Arzate-Fernández 1 * 1 Molecular Biology Laboratory, Research and Advanced Studies in Plant Breeding, Faculty of Agricultural Sciences, Autonomous University of State of México, Carretera Toluca-Ixtlahuaca Km 11.5, Campus Universitario “El Cerrillo” 50200, Toluca, State of México, México, USA. 2 Institute of Agricultural and Rural Sciences Autonomous University of State of México, Carretera Toluca-Ixtlahuaca Km 11.5 Toluca, State of México, México, USA. Accepted 30 January, 2012 Sacred fir (Abies religiosa) forests of the Nevado de Toluca National Park, Mexico, are threatened principally by illegal cutting and an increasing incidence of parasites as bark beetles and dwarf mistletoe. An important and sometimes ignored component of conservations plan is genetic variability hence, it is necessary to carry out studies on the genetic diversity of sacred fir to create an efficient plan of conservation and management. In the present study DNA markers were used to analyze genetic variability of seventeen populations of sacred fir. Results suggest high values of genetic variability among populations (G ST > 0.5) and low levels of gene flow (Nm < 1), indicating high population differentiation. These results allow the localization of genetically unique populations and propose them as Conservation and Management of Gene Resources Zones. Key words: Nevado de Toluca national park, Abies religiosa, molecular markers, conservation. INTRODUCTION The Nevado de Toluca National Park (NTNP) is a natural protected area in Mexico, formed principally by conifer forests that surround the Xinantecatl volcano that is part of the Trans-Mexican Neovolcanic Belt mountain system. In NTNP fir forests comprise sacred fir (Abies religiosa (HBK) Schld. and Cham.), the most widely distributed fir in Mexico (Rzedowski, 2006). The NTNP A. religiosa forests are sanctuaries for the Monarch butterfly (Danaus plexippus L.), which passes its hibernation period there. Also, in these woods are found a major number of species of animals and fungi, as well as the outstanding presence of moss (Thuidium spp.), which prevents water runoff and soil erosion. Furthermore, sacred fir is highly *Corresponding author. E-mail: amaury1963@yahoo.com.mx. Tel: 01722-2965529. Fax: 01722-2965518 ext. 144. valued as commercial wood used in products such as beams, Christmas trees and fine papers. The NTNP is surrounded by urban areas, implicating environmental and anthropogenic pressures for the natural resources. Illegal logging, for example, leads to habitat fragmentation, and excessive cutting of healthy trees leaving only the weak and ill ones, resulting in an increase in the incidence of parasites such as mistletoes and bark beetles (Franco-Maass and Candeau-Dufat, 2007). There are limited reports of genetic variability studies of A. religiosa (Eguiarte-Fruns et al., 1997; Aguirre-Planter, 2000), additionally there are no reports of genetic variability in the NTNP woods using DNA markers, despite its ecological and economical importance, and this is why this study is relevant. It is known that populations distributed naturally across an altitude gradient, for example those which are distri- buted in mountain systems; tend towards differentiation