Genetic variation of Ardisia crenata in south China revealed by nuclear microsatellite

• Published in: Journal of systematics and evolution : JSE Vol. 48; no. 4; pp. 279 - 285
• Main Authors: MU, Hong-Ping, HONG, Lan, CAO, Hong-Lin, WANG, Zheng-Feng, LI, Zhong-Chao, SHEN, Hao, WANG, Zhang-Ming, YE, Wan-Hui
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Malden, USA Blackwell Publishing Inc 01.07.2010; Graduate School of the Chinese Academy of Sciences,Beijing 100049,China%South China Botanical Garden,Chinese Academy of Sciences,Guangzhou 510650,China; South China Botanical Garden,Chinese Academy of Sciences,Guangzhou 510650,China
• Subjects: differentiation; genetic variation; inbreeding; nuclear microsatellite; genetic variation; differentiation; nuclear microsatellite; inbreeding
• ISSN: 1674-4918; 1759-6831
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1759-6831.2010.00081.x

Ardisia crenata Sims, one of the most widely distributed Ardisia in the world, is an important ornamental and medicinal plant species. Using seven polymorphic nuclear microsatellite loci, we studied the genetic variation of 20 natural populations of A. crenata across its distribution center in south China. Significant deviation from the Hardy–Weinberg equilibrium in all populations and at all loci were detected, and the fixation index was high (FIS= 0.725), indicating that inbreeding may be dominant in the mixed mating system of this self‐compatible species. The average genetic diversity within populations was relatively low (HS= 0.321). There was significant genetic differentiation among populations (FST= 0.583), which may have resulted from a high level of inbreeding and a low level of gene flow. Ardisia crenata in south China can be roughly divided into an eastern group and a western group, consistent with the floristic division of the Sino‐Himalayan forest subkingdom and the Sino‐Japanese forest subkingdom. There may be separated glacial refugia in each region.