Genetic Variation in Wild and Cultivated Rhizoma Corydalis Revealed by ISSRs Markers

Abstract

Rhizoma Corydalis is an important Chinese medicinal herb. In this paper, we employed ISSR data to explore the genetic variation in domesticated populations and wild populations of the species. The average of within-population ISSR diversity in cultivated populations (PPF=25.32%, Hpop=0.094) was lower than that in wild populations (PPF=47.70%, Hpop=0.144). Cultivated populations (PhiST=0.515, GST=0.429) have a greater proportion of their genetic variability distributed among populations than wild populations (PhiST=0.277, GST=0.226). Based on hierarchical estimates of variance components, significant statistical differences (57.77%, P<0.001) were found between the wild and cultivated groups. The low levels of genetic diversity within cultivated populations and high levels of genetic differentiation among populations/groups may result from artificial selection, the mode of clonal propagation, and only limited exchange of material among localities. Finally, some suggestions for conservation and efficient management of the genetic resources of this important medicinal herb are proposed.

Genetic variation in cultivated Rheum tanguticum populations

“…Our findings were similar to several other long-lived cultivated plants in which genetic diversity is as high as in the wild relatives (He et al , 2007; Shi et al , 2008). Cultivated R. tanguticum had moderate levels of genetic diversity compared with cultivated populations of other endangered Chinese medicinal plants (Table 6) (Wu et al , 2006; Guo et al , 2007; Qiu et al , 2009; Song et al , 2010; Li et al , 2011; Yao et al , 2012), i.e. , there was no evidence that a “cultivation bottleneck or founder effect” affected the genetic diversity.…”

Genetic diversity and differentiation of cultivated ginseng (Panax ginseng C. A. Meyer) populations in North-east China revealed by inter-simple sequence repeat (ISSR) markers

“…Lu et al 2009;Qiu et al 2009;Roy and Chakraborty 2009). In the present study, the ISSR marker system was employed to investigate genetic diversity and differentiation in all the three cultivated types.…”

The Population Genetics of Cultivation: Domestication of a Traditional Chinese Medicine, Scrophularia ningpoensis Hemsl. (Scrophulariaceae)

“…This medicinal plant has lost genetic diversity as a result of domestication which clearly shows that a species can have large genetic alterations even before there are significant changes in morphology, phenology or breeding system. Other species native to China, such as Corydalis yanhusuo (traditional Chinese medicine) [16], Metasequoia glyptostroboides [82], Malus pumila [83] and Zizania latifolia [84] also revealed the same genetic pattern.…”

“…As the demand for medicinal plant cultivation increased, many studies examined the impact of cultivation on genetic diversity, species such as Artemisia judaica [14], Scutellaria baicalensis [15], Corydalis yanhusuo [16], Coptis chinensis [17], Magnolia officinalis subsp. biloba [18], Fritillaria cirrhosa [19].…”