Genetic Diversity of the Relict Plant Taiwania cryptomerioides Hayata (Cupressaceae) in Mainland China

The genetic diversity and differentiation of five populations of Taiwania cryptomerioides Hayata in mainland China were investigated using inter-simple sequence repeats (ISSR). In comparison with other coniferous species, T. cryptomerioides from mainland China possesses little genetic variation, particularly at the level of individual populations (the percentage of polymorphic loci, Nei’s gene diversity and Shannon’s indices of diversity at the species and population levels are 38.02%, 0.1326, 0.1986 and 9.27%, 0.035, 0.0518 respectively). In contrast, the level of population differentiation is much higher (GST: 0.7269; Shannon’s genetic differentiation: 0.7392; Hickory è B: 0.668; AMOVA genetic differentiation: 72.37%). The genetic divergence of pairs of populations was not significantly correlated with the geographical distance separating them. Current patterns of genetic variation were related to biogeographic history and the small population size. On the basis of these findings, we discuss the development of conservation strategies for this endangered species.