Allozyme Diversity in Eleutherococcus Senticosus and E. Brachypus (araliaceae) From China and Its Implication for Conservation
Year: 2004
Type: article
Abstract: The widespread Eleutherococcus senticosus (Rupr. et Maxim.) Maxim, is threatened because of overharvesting of its root bark for medicinal uses. The geographically restricted E. brachy pus becomes endangered due to habitat loss in the Loess Plateau of China. To facilitate the development of conservation strategies, genetic diversity of both species was measured at 26 isozyme loci (12 enzymes). Eleutherococcus brachypus had a low proportion of polymorphic loci (P= 19.2%; P= 13.1%) and low genetic diversity (Hes= 0.063; Hep=0.031). The genetic variability of the widespread E. senticosus was higher (P = 26.9%; Pp= 20.76%; H =0.094; He =0.059) than that of the restricted E. brachypus. Population differentiation of E. brachypus (Gs =0.531) was greater than that of E. senticosus (Gs =0.383). Cluster analysis showed that populations of E. senticosus in Northeast or North China are genetically closer within each region than between the two regions. Populations of E. senticosus in Northeast China have a higher level of genetic diversity, and these populations need to be conserved with greater priority. Populations of E. brachypus in the Loess Plateau have been highly fragmented, and all populations of the species should be protected to maximize its genetic diversity.
Authors: Zhou, Shi-Liang, Wen, Jun, Hong, Deyuan.
Language: English
Subfield: Genetics
Domain: Life Sciences
SDG: Life on land
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W2185161350