title: Relationships among genetic makeup, active ingredient content, and place of origin of the medicinal plant Gastrodia tuber.
abstract: Gastrodia tuber and its component gastrodin have many pharmacological effects. The chemical fingerprints and gastrodin contents of eight Gastrodia populations were determined, and the genomic DNA polymorphism of the populations was investigated. Genetic distance coefficients among the populations were calculated using the DNA polymorphism data. A dendrogram of the genetic similarities between the populations was constructed using the genetic distance coefficients. The results indicated that the genomic DNA of Gastrodia tubers was highly polymorphic; the eight populations clustered into three major groups, and the gastrodin content varied greatly among these groups. There were obvious correlations among genetic makeup, gastrodin content, and place of origin. The ecological environments in Guizhou and Shanxi may be conducive to evolution and to gastrodin biosynthesis, and more suitable for cultivation of Gastrodia tubers. These findings may provide a scientific basis for overall genetic resource management and for the selection of locations for cultivating Gastrodia tubers.
authors.affiliation: School of Biology and Food Engineering, Changsha University of Science and Technology, Changsha, Hunan, 410076, P.R. China. tao_shiren@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Jun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Tao
authors.forename: Zhi-yong
authors.initials: ZY
authors.lastname: Luo
authors.forename: Chikira Ismail
authors.initials: CI
authors.lastname: Msangi
authors.forename: Xiao-shun
authors.initials: XS
authors.lastname: Shu
authors.forename: Li
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Wen
authors.forename: Shui-ping
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Chang-quan
authors.initials: CQ
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.forename: Rui-xin
authors.initials: RX
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Wei-xin
authors.initials: WX
authors.lastname: Hu
mesh_terms: D001592:Benzyl Alcohols / Q000032:analysis; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D018744:DNA, Plant / Q000235:genetics; D031668:Gastrodia / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics* / Q000254:growth & development; D005960:Glucosides / Q000032:analysis; D010802:Phylogeny; D035281:Plant Tubers / Q000737:chemistry / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development; D010946:Plants, Medicinal / Q000737:chemistry / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development
chemical_list: D001592:Benzyl Alcohols; D018744:DNA, Plant; D005960:Glucosides; C045345:gastrodin