An analysis of the genetic diversity and genetic structure of Eucommia ulmoides using inter-simple sequence repeat (ISSR) markers

Abstract

Scientific approaches to conservation of threatened species depend on a good understanding of the genetic information of wild and artificial population. The genetic diversity and structure analysis of 10 Eucommia ulmoides population was analyzed using inter-simple sequence repeat (ISSR) markers in this paper. A low genetic diversity at the population level (PPB=36.99%) and a high genetic diversity at the species level (PPB=85.54%) were revealed. Analysis of molecular variance (AMOVA) also detected a significant differentiation among the populations. Unweighted pair-group method with arithmetic averaging (UPGMA) clustered the 10 population into 3 groups, and no significant correlation was found between the genetic distance and the corresponding geographic distance among the populations, which is consistent with the results of principal coordinate analysis (PCoA). The genetic variation between the artificial and wild populations revealed a decreased genetic diversity and aggravated genetic differentiation in the artificial populations. A conservation strategy of Eucommia ulmoides is discussed based on the information of the population genetic structure and variation.

Key words: Eucommia ulmoides, inter-simple sequence repeat (ISSR), genetic diversity, genetic structure, conservation.