Genetic structure of the endangered plant Neolitsea sericea (Lauraceae) from the Zhoushan archipelago using RAPD markers.
OBJECTIVE
The Zhoushan archipelago is the largest archipelago in China. It separated from the mainland about 9000 years ago due to rising sea levels and climate change. Because of the long-term influences of human activities, the original forest vegetation on the large islands has been badly damaged and its plant diversity reduced.


METHODS
Levels and patterns of genetic diversity in 114 individuals from six natural populations and four cultivated populations of the insular endangered plant Neolitsea sericea (Lauraceae) on the Zhoushan archipelago were assessed using random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) markers.


RESULTS
A total of 99 discernible loci were obtained for all populations using ten primers, 50.5 % of which were polymorphic [percentage of polymorphic bands (PPB)=50.5 %]. Despite being a woody, long-lived, perennial, outcrossing and insect-pollinated plant, N. sericea exhibited low levels of genetic variation. The cultivated populations (PPB=18.9 %, HE=0.060, S=0.092) were genetically less diverse than the natural populations (PPB=23.1 %, HE=0.082, S=0.123). Based on analysis of molecular variance, a high degree of among-population differentiation was revealed for both natural (0.387) and cultivated populations (0.598).


CONCLUSIONS
Removal of plants from the wild for horticulture purposes has eroded the level of genetic variation of N. sericea. Low levels of genetic diversity and a high degree of population differentiation indicate that management strategies should include conservation of natural habitats occupied by all six wild populations, and sampling of germplasm resources from multiple seed sources.
Wang
Zhong-Sheng
ZS
Department of Ecology, School of Life Science, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210093, China.
An
Shu-Qing
SQ
Liu
Hong
H
Leng
Xin
X
Zheng
Jian-Wei
JW
Liu
Yu-Hong
YH
D002681:China; D003247:Conservation of Natural Resources; D017753:Ecosystem; D005819:Genetic Markers; D014644:Genetic Variation; D019770:Lauraceae / Q000235:genetics*; D010641:Phenotype; D010802:Phylogeny; D019105:Random Amplified Polymorphic DNA Technique
D005819:Genetic Markers