Biodiv Sci ›› 2009, Vol. 17 ›› Issue (3): 296-302.  DOI: 10.3724/SP.J.1003.2009.09043

• Editorial • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Genetic diversity in natural populations of Castanea mollissima inferred from nuclear SSR markers

Hua Tian1,3, Ming Kang1,2, Li Li1,3, Xiaohong Yao1, Hongwen Huang1,2,*()   

  1. 1 Wuhan Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan 430074
    2 South China Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510650
    3 Graduate University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049
  • Received:2009-02-23 Accepted:2009-04-04 Online:2009-05-20 Published:2009-05-20
  • Contact: Hongwen Huang

Abstract:

Genetic diversity and population structure of 28 natural populations of Castanea mollissima were investigated by using microsatellite markers. A total of 128 alleles were identified in 849 individuals across the eight microsatellites analysed, with a mean value of 16 alleles per locus. The mean expected heterozygosity (HE) and observed heterozygosity (HO) across all populations were 0.678 and 0.590, respectively, and a higher level of diversity was found in populations from central China (A= 8.112, HE= 0.705, HO= 0.618) than those from other three regions (eastern, southwestern and northwestern China). Indices of genetic differentiation based on stepwise mutation model (SMM) and infinite allele model (IAM) were RST= 0.208 and FST= 0.120, respectively. No significant association between genetic distance and geographic distance was detected by Mantel test, suggesting gene flow is not a dominant factor shaping genetic structure of the species. The central China, particularly the area around the Shengnongjia Mountains, can be recognized as a modern center of genetic diversity of C. mollissima. Thus, natural populations of the species in this region deserve prior conservation and utilization for breeding programmes.

Key words: Castanea mollissima, germplasm, microsatellite, genetic diversity, population structure