Conservation genetics of endangeredBrasenia schreberi based on RAPD and AFLP markers

Brasenia schreberi J.F. Gmelin is a declared endangered species found in the lakes and ponds of South Korea. For planning its conservation strategy, we examined the genetic diversity within and among six populations, using randomly amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) and amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP). Polymorphisms were more frequently detected per loci with AFLP (69.3%) than RAPD (36.8%). High genetic diversity was recognized within populations: polymorphic loci (PPL) values ranged from 36.3% in the CJM population to 74.5% in the GGT population, with a mean value of 47.8% based on AFLP markers. Great genetic differentiation (θ^B) was detected among the six populations (0.670 on RAPD and 0.196 on AFLP), and we calculated a low rate of gene flow (N_em), i.e., 0.116 on RAPD and 0.977 on AFLP. Furthermore, a Mantel test revealed that no correlation existed between genetic distances and geographical distances among the six local populations, based on RAPD or AFLP markers. These results are attributed to a number of factors, including an insufficient length of time for genetic diversity to be reduced following a natural decline in population size and isolation, adaptation of the genetic system to small population conditions, and a restricted gene flow rate. Based on both its genetic diversity and population structure, we suggest that a strategy for conserving and restoringB. schreberi must focus on maintaining historical processes, such as high levels of outbreeding, while monitoring increased gene flow among populations. This is because a reduction in genetic diversity as a result of genetic drift is undesirable.     

金花茶遗传多样性的ISSR分析

采用ISSR分子标记对金花茶的4个自然分布居群的126份样品的遗传多样性水平进行了研究。用12条引物,共检测到105个清晰的扩增位点,其中多态性位点79个,多态位点百分率(PPB)为75．24％。采用POPGENE软件进行分析,结果表明：居群总的Nei’s基因多样性指数为0．2302,Shannon信息多态性指数为0．3502,金花茶总的遗传多样性水平较高。但金花茶居群内的遗传多样性相对较低。基因分化系数为0．5752,遗传变异主要存在于居群间。用NTSYS软件对样品进行UPGMA聚类分析,结果4个居群的样品各自聚在一起,而金花茶两间断分布区区内的居群又各自聚在一起。金花茶4个居群间的遗传距离与地理距离呈显著的正相关(r=0．68261,P=1．0000)。     

Genetic Diversity Within and Among Lepidium draba Populations from Eastern Anatolia Based on RAPD Analysis

Genetic variation and structure of six natural populations of Lepidium draba L. from Eastern Anatolia were assessed using random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) markers. For RAPD analysis, 12 primers generated 218 reproducible bands across the six populations analyzed, of which 73 bands (33.3%) were polymorphic. The mean Nei’s gene diversity value for all six populations was 0.1771. Shannon’s information index varied with population (0.2278–0.3082), averaging 0.2608. Analysis of molecular variance (AMOVA) showed that genetic diversity was greater within populations (58.66%) than among populations (30.68%). In addition, the variation between groups was 10.33%. The genetic differentiation among populations (G _ST) was 0.3210, indicating that most genetic diversity occurs within populations. Gene flow (Nm) was low, at only 0.5288.     

Genetic diversity in natural populations of Jacaranda decurrens Cham. determined using RAPD and AFLP markers

Jacaranda decurrens (Bignoniaceae) is an endemic species of the Cerrado with validated antitumoral activity. The genetic diversity of six populations of J. decurrens located in the State of São Paulo was determined in this study by using molecular markers for randomly amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) and amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP). Following optimization of the amplification reaction, 10 selected primers generated 78 reproducible RAPD fragments that were mostly (69.2%) polymorphic. Two hundred and five reproducible AFLP fragments were generated by using four selected primer combinations; 46.3% of these fragments were polymorphic, indicating a considerable level of genetic diversity. Analysis of molecular variance (AMOVA) using these two groups of markers indicated that variability was strongly structured amongst populations. The unweighted pair group method with arithmatic mean (UPGMA) and Pearson''s correlation coefficient (RAPD -0.16, p = 0.2082; AFLP 0.37, p = 0.1006) between genetic matrices and geographic distances suggested that the population structure followed an island model in which a single population of infinite size gave rise to the current populations of J. decurrens, independently of their spatial position. The results of this study indicate that RAPD and AFLP markers were similarly efficient in measuring the genetic variability amongst natural populations of J. decurrens. These data may be useful for developing strategies for the preservation of this medicinal species in the Cerrado.     

Lack of genetic variation of an invasive clonal plant Eichhornia crassipes in China revealed by RAPD and ISSR markers

Random amplified polymorphic DNAs (RAPDs) and inter-simple sequence repeats (ISSRs) markers were used to analyze genetic structure of six populations of invasive plant Eichhornia crassipes that were sampled from its introduced regions in Southern China. Using 25 RAPD primers and 18 ISSR primers, 172 RAPD bands and 145 ISSR bands were produced respectively. But no polymorphic band was detected either within population or among populations by both markers, indicating the genetic diversity of E. crassipes in Southern China is extremely low, and all populations most likely consist of the same genotype. This study suggested that some other adaptability related factors, other than the genetic diversity, are responsible to the E. crassipes rapid expansion in China.     

用AFLP技术分析四川核桃资源的遗传多样性

 利用AFLP分子标记技术, 运用EcoRⅠ/MseⅠ双酶切组合, 选用多态性高、分辨力强的4对选择性扩增引物组合E32/M48、E33/M61、E35/M61、E33/M62分别对四川省3个野生核桃(Juglans regia)种群和1个野生铁核桃(J. sigillata)种群共46个样品进行遗传多样性分析、居群遗传结构分析及种属关系探讨。结果表明: 1)共扩增出244个遗传位点, 其中146个多态位点, 多态率为59.84%; 核桃群体组和铁核桃群体的多态性百分率分别为55.33%和52.05%, 两个物种遗传多态性水平相当; 核桃群体组所检出的位点平均有效等位基因数Ae、Nei’s基因多样度H、平均Shannon信息指数I分别为1.322 9、0.190 8和0.286 3, 而铁核桃群体分别为1.339 9、0.196 1和0.289 8, 铁核桃群体遗传多样性水平略高于核桃群体。2)群体间特异带及群体间共有带占总扩增带数的15.16%, 其中铁核桃群体特异谱带最多, 群体特异谱带揭示了群体间的遗传差异及相似性。3) Shannon信息指数(I)、Nei’s基因多样性指数(H)和分子方差分析(AMOVA)表明核桃遗传多样性在群体间和群体内的分布分别为14.36%和85.64%、12.6%和87.4%、11.07%和88.93%, 表明群体内的遗传多样性大于群体间的遗传多样性; 核桃群体组与铁核桃群体的变异主要存在于群体组内, 组间的遗传变异仅占总变异的9.35%, 两者间的遗传分化系数Gst为0.093 5, 与AMOVA分析结果一致。4) 4个群体的Nei’s遗传距离在0.038 2～0.069 2之间, 遗传一致度在0.933 2～0.962 5之间, 表现出较高的遗传相似性; 运用Nei’s遗传一致度对供试种群进行了UPGMA聚类, 结果表明核桃的3个群体优先聚类, 大渡河流域群体与甘南地区群体聚类最近。AFLP所检测出的结果既是核桃与铁核桃生物学特性的反映, 又是其各自生态学特性的反映, 该研究结果对核桃种质资源的保护和育种提供一定的理论依据。     

我国部分金莲花种质资源遗传多样性的RAPD研究

用RAPD标记对来自不同产地的24份金莲花种质从分子水平开展遗传多样性研究,为综舍评价我国金莲花资源现状及植物资源的合理保护提供参考。结果显示,30条RAPD引物共扩增获得194条清晰可辨条带,其中多态性条带108条,多态性位点百分率为55．67％,金莲花总多样性指数为0．1460,居群内遗传多样性为0．0591,Shannon’s多样性指数为0．2248;通过UPGMA进行聚类分析,将24份金莲花种质划分为3个大类,根据总遗传多样性和居群内遗传多样性计算不同居群间遗传分化系数为0．6902,基因流估计平均值为0．2244。研究结果表明,目前我国金莲花种质资源的遗传多样性指教偏低,应该尽快采取相应措施,对不同金莲花资源进行合理保护。     

华北地区小丛红景天种群的AFLP遗传多样性

利用扩增片段长度多态性(AFLP)标记, 对分布于华北地区5个山脉的25个小丛红景天(Rhodiola dumulosa)自然种群的776个样品进行了遗传多样性和遗传结构的研究。结果表明: 华北地区小丛红景天种群具有较高的遗传多样性, 4对选择扩增引物共扩增出398条清晰的条带, 其中多态带312条, 种群的平均多态位点百分率为78.46%, 种群总的Nei’s基因多样性为0.364 9, 总Shannon多态性信息指数为0.542 2。华北地区小丛红景天种群间的遗传分化系数G_st = 0.150 7, 基因流Nm = 2.817 9, 表明种群间遗传分化较低, 有一定的基因交流。AMOVA分析结果也表明: 华北地区小丛红景天的遗传变异主要存在于种群内, 地理单元间有一定的遗传分化, 而种群间的遗传分化较低。STRUCTURE的分析和UPGMA聚类分析结果一致, 结果显示地理分布距离相近的种群优先聚在一起。Mantel检验也进一步证实, 华北地区小丛红景天种群的遗传距离与地理距离间呈显著的正相关关系(r = 0.512 9, p < 0.001)。种群的遗传多样性与海拔呈显著的负相关关系(p < 0.05), 而与坡向没有显著相关性。用Dfdist软件分析海拔对遗传多样性的影响, 结果表明没有显著的受选择位点。     

拟环纹豹蛛不同地理种群遗传多样性的AFLP标记研究

为查明拟环纹豹蛛Pardosa pseudoannulata不同地理种群的遗传多样性机制,应用AFLP技术对6个拟环纹豹蛛地理种群的遗传多样性进行了研究分析。8对引物组合扩增出1 038个AFLP条带,其中多态性条带占86.622%,全部个体显示了各自独特的AFLP图谱。AFLP标记的遗传多样性分析结果表明： 拟环纹豹蛛无论在物种水平(P=86.62%,H=0.2622,I=0.3101),还是在种群水平（P=73.0%,H=0.2155,I=0.2554）都表现出较高的遗传多样性。其中湖南长沙雷锋镇种群内遗传变异最大,云南高黎贡山福贡种群内遗传变异最小,华南北部（湖南、湖北、江西）地区拟环纹豹蛛遗传多样性明显高于华南南部（云南、海南）种群。据种群变异来源分析,有35.77%的遗传变异来自种群间,64.23%的变异来源于种群内（N_m=0.898）,不同地理种群显示出一定的遗传分化。分析认为海拔是影响拟环纹豹蛛遗传分化的重要因素,这为进一步明确我国稻田狼蛛优势种群在农药胁迫下的遗传适应性机制提供了实验依据。     

Genetic variation within and among populations of a wild rice Oryza granulata from China detected by RAPD and ISSR markers

Genetic variation within and between five populations of Oryza granulata from two regions of China was investigated using RAPD (random amplified polymorphic DNA) and ISSR (inter-simple sequence repeat amplification) markers. Twenty RAPD primers used in this study amplified 199 reproducible bands with 61 (30.65%) polymorphic; and 12 ISSR primers amplified 113 bands with 52 (46.02%) polymorphic. Both RAPD and ISSR analyses revealed a low level of genetic diversity in wild populations of O. granulata. Furthermore, analysis of molecular variance (AMOVA) was used to apportion the variation within and between populations both within and between regions. As the RAPD markers revealed, 73.85% of the total genetic diversity resided between the two regions, whereas only 19.45% and 6.70% were present between populations within regions and within a population respectively. Similarly, it was shown by ISSR markers that a great amount of variation (49.26%) occurred between the two regions, with only 38.07% and 12.66% between populations within regions and within a population respectively. Both the results of a UPGMA cluster, based on Jaccard coefficients, and pairwise distance analysis agree with that of the AMOVA partition. This is the first report of the partitioning of genetic variability within and among populations of O. granulata at the DNA level, which is in general agreement with a recent study on the same species in China using allozyme analysis. Our results also indicated that the percentage of polymorphic bands (PPB) detected by ISSR is higher than that detected by RAPD. It seems that ISSR is superior to RAPD in terms of the polymorphism detected and the amplification reproducibility. Received: 29 March 2000 / Accepted: 15 May 2000     

Analysis of the Genetic Structure of Sclerotinia sclerotiorum (Lib.) de Bary Populations from Different Regions and Host Plants by Random Amplified Polymorphic DNA Markers

The genetic diversity and genetic structure of a population of isolates of Sclerotinia sclerotiorum (Lib.) de Bary from different regions and host plants were investigated using the random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) method with 20 random decamer primer pairs in order to provide some information on the phylogenetic taxa and breeding for resistance to sclerotinia stem rot. A minimum of three and a maximum of 15 unambiguously amplified bands were generated, furnishing a total of 170 bands ranging in size from 100to 3 200 bp, corresponding to an average of 8.5 bands per primer pair. One hundred and four of these 170bands (61.2%) were polymorphic, the percentage of polymorphic bands for each primer pair ranging from 0.0% to 86.7%. The genetic relationships among the isolates, based on the results of RAPD analysis, were examined. The genetic similarity of all selected isolates was quite high. At the species level, the genetic diversity estimated by Nei's gene diversity (h) was 0.197 and S hannon's index of diversity (I) was 0.300. The unweighted pair-group mean analysis (UPGMA) cluster analysis showed that most isolates from the same regions were grouped in the same cluster or a close cluster. The population of isolates from Hefei (Anhui Province, China) was more uniform and relatively distant to other populations. The Canadian population collected from carrot (Daucus carota var. sativa DC.) was relatively close to the Polish population collected from oilseed rape (Brassica napus L.) plants. There was no relationship between isolates from the same host plants. An analysis of molecular variance (AMOVA) revealed that the percentage of variance attributable to variation among and within populations was 50.62% and 49.38%, respectively. When accessions from China, Europe, and Canada were treated as three separate groups, the variance components among groups,among populations within groups, and within populations were -0.96%, 51.48%, and 49.47%, respectively.The genetic differentiations among and within populations were highly significant (P ＜ 0.001). Similarly, the coefficient of gene differentiation (Gst) in total populations calculated by population genetic analysis was 0.229 4, which indicated that the genetic variation among populations was 22.94%. The gene flow (Nm)was 1.68, which indicated that the gene permutation and interaction among populations was relatively high.     

Genetic diversity of Hibiscus tiliaceus (Malvaceae) in China assessed using AFLP markers

Amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) markers were used to investigate the genetic variations within and among nine natural populations of Hibiscus tiliaceus in China. DNA from 145 individuals was amplified with eight primer pairs. No polymorphisms were found among the 20 samples of a marginal population of recent origin probably due to a founder effect. Across the other 125 individuals, 501 of 566 bands (88.5%) were polymorphic, and 125 unique AFLP phenotypes were observed. Estimates of genetic diversity agreed with life history traits of H. tiliaceus and geographical distribution. AMOVA analysis revealed that most genetic diversity resided within populations (84.8%), which corresponded to results reported for outcrossing plants. The indirect estimate of gene flow based on phiST was moderate (Nm=1.395). Long-distance dispersal of floating seeds and local environments may play an important role in shaping the genetic diversity of the population and the genetic structure of this species.     

采用RAPD和ISSR标记探讨中国疣粒野生稻的遗传多样性

Random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) and inter-simple sequence repeat (ISSR) methods were applied to detect genetic variation of 20 bulking samples and two individually sampled populations of Oryza granulata (Nees et Arn. ex Watt.) from China (M5 from Hainan Province and M27 from Yunnan Province). For the bulking sampled populations, 20 RAPD and 12 ISSR primers generated 209 and 122 bands, of which 134 (64.11%) and 89 (72.95%) were polymorphic respectively. For population M5, 146 and 95 bands were generated with 21.48% and 34.78% being polymorphic (PPB). For population M27, 151 (PPB = 17.22%) and 94 (PPB = 19.15%) bands of RAPD and ISSR were obtained. The results indicated that the level of genetic variation of O． granulata was lower than other species detected in the genus Oryza. UPGMA cluster based on genetic similarity and principle component analyses (PCA) based on band patterns divided the populations into two groups corresponding to their sources, which revealed that the majority of genetic variation of O. granulata occurred between Hainan and Yunnan. Consequently, more populations of the species should be considered for a reasonable conservation management. Comparison between the two marker systems showed that ISSR was better than RAPD in terms of reproducibility and ability of detecting genetic polymorphism. Mantel test revealed that the goodness of fit between them was significant (r=0.917, t=12.718) when detecting genetic diversity at species level, but was poor at population level (r<0.200). The discrepancy was considered as the facts that different fragments were targeted by RAPD and ISSR, and that evolutionary process of O. granulata varied at different hierarchical levels.     

A population genetics study of Anopheles darlingi (Diptera: Culicidae) from Colombia based on random amplified polymorphic DNA-polymerase chain reaction and amplified fragment lenght polymorphism markers

The genetic variation and population structure of three populations of Anopheles darlingi from Colombia were studied using random amplified polymorphic markers (RAPDs) and amplified fragment length polymorphism markers (AFLPs). Six RAPD primers produced 46 polymorphic fragments, while two AFLP primer combinations produced 197 polymorphic fragments from 71 DNA samples. Both of the evaluated genetic markers showed the presence of gene flow, suggesting that Colombian An. darlingi populations are in panmixia. Average genetic diversity, estimated from observed heterozygosity, was 0.374 (RAPD) and 0.309 (AFLP). RAPD and AFLP markers showed little evidence of geographic separation between eastern and western populations; however, the F ST values showed high gene flow between the two western populations (RAPD: F ST = 0.029; Nm: 8.5; AFLP: F ST = 0.051; Nm: 4.7). According to molecular variance analysis (AMOVA), the genetic distance between populations was significant (RAPD:phiST = 0.084; AFLP:phiST = 0.229, P < 0.001). The F ST distances and AMOVAs using AFLP loci support the differentiation of the Guyana biogeographic province population from those of the Chocó-Magdalena. In this last region, Chocó and Córdoba populations showed the highest genetic flow.     

Analysis of genetic variability and population structure of the endemic medicinal Limonium sinense using molecular markers

Limonium sinense is an endemic medicinal herb used to treat fever, hemorrhage and other disorders. In the present study, population genetic diversity was elucidated using random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD), inter simple sequence repeat (ISSR) and amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) primers. Percentage of polymorphic bands, Nei's gene diversity and Shannon's information index revealed a high level of genetic diversity at species level. The analysis of molecular variance revealed that 69.88% (RAPD), 71.19% (ISSR) and 70.97% (AFLP) of variability were partitioned among individuals within populations, which indicated the coherent trend by Gst (0.3849/0.3577/0.3670). Gene flow number (Nm) was 0.581/0.618/0.612, which indicated that there was a limited gene exchange between populations. The UPGMA clustering results showed that the genetic distance had no significant correlation with geographic distance. These results indicate that these markers were reliable tools for the differentiation and determination of the genetic diversity among the populations of L. sinense and the conservation of existing natural population is necessary.     

中华稻蝗不同地理种群遗传多样性的AFLP分析

为研究中华稻蝗种群遗传多样性和遗传结构, 文章对我国7省市的7个中华稻蝗种群进行AFLP分析。选取7对引物扩增128个个体, 共产生336条带, 多态性条带292条, 占86.90%。结果表明: 中华稻蝗种群具有较高的遗传多样性水平, 其中海南万宁种群的遗传多样性高于其他各种群。Mantel检验(r=0.27, P=0.89)表明中华稻蝗各种群遗传距离与地理距离间没有显著相关性。种群间具有明显的遗传分化现象。UPGMA(Unweighted pair group method average)聚类分析显示, 7个中华稻蝗种群按地理距离分为3支: 北方北京昌平、山西太原和山东济宁为一支; 南方陕西汉中、湖南长沙和广西来宾为一支; 海南万宁单独为一支。上述结果以及PCA(Principal component analysis)分析均表明由于地理隔离中华稻蝗种群显示出明显的南北分化和岛屿大陆种群遗传分化现象。     

AFLP and RAPD analyses of genetic diversity of wild and/or weedy Guizotia (Asteraceae) from Ethiopia

Amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) and random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) markers were used to provide estimates of the comparative genetic variation within and among populations of various Guizotia taxa with the goal of conserving and utilizing their genetic diversity. The percentage of polymorphic loci (P(S)) ranged from 28.5%-90% (AFLP) and 85.6%-99.6% (RAPD). The overall gene diversity estimate () has shown slight variation among taxa ranging from 0.32-0.37 (AFLP) and from 0.22 to 0.28 (RAPD). The within population diversity of "Chelelu" and "Ketcha" was found to be unexpectedly high. Both parameters used to estimate population differentiation (G(ST) and F(ST)) revealed the highest population differentiation G. zavattarii in followed by G. arborescens. Genetic variation among populations within a taxon was highly significant for all the five taxa as revealed by AMOVA (P<0.0001). The need for immediate conservation activities for G. arborescens and G. zavattarii, and factors that contribute to the existing genetic variability and population genetic structures are discussed.     

利用AFLP和SSAP研究短芒大麦突变系种群遗传多样性

利用AFLP和SSAP分子标记,研究了松嫩平原4个以耐盐突变体为主要组成的短芒大麦(Hordeum brevisubulatium(Trin.)Link)种群的遗传多样性和种群遗传结构。由于2种分子标记原理稍有不同,获得分析结果显现出微小差异,但2种方法的结果仍保持了极显著的相关性(r=0.88,P<0.01)。AFLP和SSAP检测结果表明,短芒大麦种群多态位点比率P分别为23.3%和37.7%;Shannon多样性指数分别为0.10和0.14;Nei基因多样性指数分别为0.07和0.09;基因分化系数Gst分别为0.49和0.44。表明,各短芒大麦种群虽以单一突变种为主要组成,但经多年的种植,种群内已具有较高的遗传多样性。AMOVA和聚类分析结果也表明,虽然种群间遗传差异较大,但种群遗传变异仍主要存在于种群内。     

Genetic diversity in Hemileia vastatrix based on RAPD markers

Random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) was used to assess the genetic structure of Hemileia vastatrix populations. Forty-five rust isolates with different virulence spectra and from different hosts and geographical regions were analyzed. Out of 45 bands, generated with three RAPD primers, 35 (78%) were polymorphic and scored as molecular markers. Cluster analysis exhibits unstructured variability of this pathogen with regard to physiological race, geographical origin or host. The genotypic diversity (H') inferred from Shannon's index was higher than gene diversity (Ht), suggesting that diversity is distributed among clonal lineages. Estimates of gene diversity in Africa and Asia populations were higher in total (Ht) as compared to within population diversity (Hs). Genetic differentiation was considerable among coffee rust isolates from Africa (Gst = 0.865) and Asia (Gst = 0.768) but not among isolates from South America (Gst = 0.266). We concluded that genetic diversity in H. vastatrix was moderately low and that the genetic differentiation among populations shows that asexual reproduction is likely to play an important role in the population biology of this fungus. This should be taken into account for the development of breeding programs.     

Genetic structure and variation in the relict populations of Alsophila spinulosa from southern China based on RAPD markers and cpDNA atpB-rbcL sequence data

RAPD markers and sequences of chloroplast DNA (cpDNA) atpB-rbcL intergenic spacers were used to characterize the pattern of genetic variation and the phylogenetic relationships of the relict populations of Alsophila spinulosa located in Jian Feng Ling (JFL) and Diao Luo Shan (DLS), Hainan, and Tang Lang Shan (TLS), Ding Hu Shan (DHS), and Da Xi Shan (DXS), Guangdong, of southern China. 28 random primers generated 118 bands, out of which 26 (22.03%) were polymorphic loci, distinguishing 17 different RAPD phenotypes. Percentage of polymorphic loci, Shannon phenotypic diversity and Nei's gene diversity comprehensively indicated that JFL possessed the highest diversity, TLS and DHS in intermediate and DLS or DXS the least; the corresponding values of the population appeared correlated with the population size. Differentiation was detected among populations of A. spinulosa (1-Hpop/Hsp=0.7453, GST=0.7763, and phist=0.8145). AMOVA showed that 47.44% of the variance was partitioned among regions (Hainan and Guangdong), 34.01% attributed among populations within regions, whereas only 18.55% occurring within populations. Low level of intra-specific diversity was maintained in A. spinulosa with Shannon diversity and gene diversity merely 0.0560 and 0.0590, repectively. Sequence length of atpB-rbcL intergenic spacer varied from 724 bp to 730 bp. Base composition was with A+T content between 63.17% and 63.70%. 13 haplotypes of atpB-rbcL noncoding spacers were identified. UPGMA dendrogram of RAPD phenotypes, principal components analysis based on RAPD patterns, minimum spanning network and neighbour-joining (NJ) tree established on atpB-rbcL haplotypes consistently suggested the geographical subdivision of populations of A. spinulosa between Hainan and Guangdong. Breeding system and conservation strategy of A. spinulosa was discussed based on the information of population genetic structure and variation.