Allozyme genetic distances and evolutionary relationships in species of akodontine rodents (Cricetidae: Sigmodontinae)

Allozyme genetic distances were estimated for ten species of akodontine rodents, as compared with the Oryzomyini Oligoryzomys longicaudatus , which was used as an outgroup to assess plesiomorphic character-states. Twenty-six loci were analysed. Distribution patterns of allele frequencies were determined by both phenetic (UPGMA) and cladistic (PAUP') techniques. Allozyme analysis confirmed monophyly for the Akodontini, and among them, the distinctiveness of the genus Oxymycterus. Genetic divergence among the eight species of Akodon was small compared to most known species of rodents. Phenrtic and phylogenetic analysis between Bolonys obscurus and species of Akodon was m agreement with previous chromosomal work but in disagreement with the indications of morphology. The general lack of allozymic differentiation among members of the Akodontini suggests that in this group molecular divergence is unrelated to speciation. Molecular clock estimation calibrated by fossils showed that generic divergence within Akodontini started at least in the late Miocene and that divergence of Akodintini from Orizomyini occurred within the Miocene.     

A new species of Syphacia (Nematoda: Oxyuridae) from Akodon azarae (Rodentia: Cricetidae) in Argentina

Eight species of Syphacia (Nematoda: Oxyuridae) have been reported from South America in rodents of the Sigmodontinae, only 1 of which has been recorded in Argentina. Syphacia (Syphacia) carlitosi n. sp. is described from the ceca of Akodon azarae bibianae and Akodon azarae hunteri (Sigmodontinae: Akodontini) captured in 3 provinces in the northeast region of Argentina. The new species is differentiated principally by the shape of the cephalic plate; distribution of submedian papillae and amphids; presence, extent, and shape of cervical alae in females; absence of lateral alae; absence of deirids; spicular and gubernaculum length; shape and structure of accessory hook of gubernaculum; and distance of mamelons, excretory pore, and vulva from the anterior extremity. This is the second record of Syphacia parasitizing rodents of the tribe Akodontini.     

Genetic relationship among Japanese sentinel crabs (Decapoda: Ocypodidae: genus Macrophthalmus)

Seven species (eight populations) of sentinel crabs (genus Macrophthalmus) from the Japan coast and Uca vocans and Ocypode ceratophthalma, were examined electrophoretically for genetic variations in 13 enzymatic and one non-enzymatic protein comprising 17 loci. Most species were highly differentiated from each other (Nei's genetic distance, 0.29-1.63). The least genetic distance was found between M. japonicus and M. banzai, the genetic distinctiveness of the two taxa being supported by three divergent loci with no common allele. The genetic relationships among Macrophthalmus species differed greatly from those inferred from morphological features, with a UPGMA tree suggesting that the sub-genus Macrophthalmus is polyphyletic.     

Analysis of the genetic diversity and relationships among and within species of Hippophae (Elaeagnaceae) based on RAPD markers

RAPD markers were used to assess the genetic diversity and inter- and intra-specific relationships of the genus Hippophae L. and to study the correlation between genetic distances and geographic distances among populations of H. rhamnoides ssp. sinensis. The results analyzed by the percentage of polymorphic loci and Shannon information index indicated that a high level of genetic diversity existed both among and within species of the genus Hippophae. In the UPGMA dendrogram, the species or subspecies were clustered into two main groups but not strictly grouped according to sect. Hippophae and sect. Gyantsensis Lian. The multiple regression analysis and Mantel test both indicated a significant correlation between genetic distance and altitude distance among populations of H. rhamnoides ssp. sinensis, and the cluster analysis suggested that the genetic variation among populations of H. rhamnoides ssp. sinensis was linked to their monophyletic origin. Moreover, some degree of genetic differentiation was found among samples collected at different times.     

Clues on Syntenic Relationship among Some Species of Oryzomyini and Akodontini Tribes (Rodentia: Sigmodontinae)

Sigmodontinae rodents represent one of the most diverse and complex components of the mammalian fauna of South America. Among them most species belongs to Oryzomyini and Akodontini tribes. The highly specific diversification observed in both tribes is characterized by diploid complements, which vary from 2n = 10 to 86. Given this diversity, a consistent hypothesis about the origin and evolution of chromosomes depends on the correct establishment of synteny analyzed in a suitable phylogenetic framework. The chromosome painting technique has been particularly useful for identifying chromosomal synteny. In order to extend our knowledge of the homeological relationships between Akodontini and Oryzomyini species, we analyzed the species Akodon montensis (2n = 24) and Thaptomys nigrita (2n = 52) both from the tribe Akodontini, with chromosome probes of Hylaeamys megacephalus (2n = 54) of the tribe Oryzomyini. The results indicate that at least 12 of the 26 autosomes of H. megacephalus show conserved synteny in A. montensis and 14 in T. nigrita. The karyotype of Akodon montensis, as well as some species of the Akodon cursor species group, results from many chromosomal fusions and therefore the syntenic associations observed probably represent synapomorphies. Our finding of a set of such associations revealed by H. megacephalus chromosome probes (6/21; 3/25; 11/16/17; and, 14/19) provides phylogenetic information for both tribes. An extension of these observations to other members of Akodontini and Oryzomyini tribes should improve our knowledge about chromosome evolution in both these groups.     

Genetic differentiation in the Agave deserti (Agavaceae) complex of the Sonoran desert

The Agave deserti complex, comprising A. deserti, A. cerulata and A. subsimplex, represents a group of species and subspecies with a near allopatric distribution and clear differences in morphology. Genetic differentiation and taxonomic status with respect to spatial distribution of 14 populations of the complex were analyzed in an effort to understand the evolution and speciation process within the genus. Allelic frequencies, levels of genetic variation, expected heterozygosity (H(S)), proportion of polymorphic loci (P), and genetic differentiation (theta and Nei's genetic distance) were estimated using 41 putative RAPD loci. All three species show high levels of genetic variation (H(S)=0.12-0.29, P=63.4-95.1), and low genetic differentiation between populations and species (theta populations=0.14+/-0.02 (SE); G(st)=0.11+/-0.02). Accordingly, gene flow among populations was estimated as high by three different methods (N(m)=2.91-6.14). Nei's genetic distances between the three species were low compared to the values obtained from other Agavaceae, and there was no clear correlation with taxonomic divisions. In a UPGMA analysis, A. subsimplex and A. cerulata formed exclusive monospecific clusters, whereas the A. deserti populations appear in more than one cluster together with other species. The results were consistent with a pattern of genetic isolation by distance.     

山西省8种蝗虫8个种群的遗传学研究

采用水平淀粉凝胶电泳技术,对采自山西省蝗虫区系的优势种类;斑腿蝗科（Catantopidae）,斑翅蝗科（Oe-dipodidae）和网翅蝗科（Arcypteridae）3科7属8种蝗虫的11种酶进行了检测,共辨析出17个酶基因座位,并计算出等位基因频率和遗传距离,等位基因频率分析表明：Ao-I、Est-3,G3pd-1、Idh-2和Mdh-2基因座位的等位基因少,等位基因数目在种间变化较小,故推断其进化速率较慢,利用这些基因座位的保守特征,可作为分子标记研究较高级阶元的系统发育关系,而Gpi-1,Ldh-1和Me-1基因座位的等位基因多,等位基因数目在种内和种间差异较大,可以用作种,属间及种群间遗传结构的比较研究。对每个基因座位的各基因型进行χ^2检验,除Acp-1,Adk-1,Ao-1和Ao-2在部分蝗虫中符合Hardy-Weinberg平衡外,其余绝大多数基因座位的基因型频率显著偏离H-W平衡。在所研究的8种蝗虫中,多态位点百分率普遍较高（P=64.7%～94.1%）,但由于杂合子数目较少而使每个基因座位的平均杂合度降低（Ho=0.024～0.087）,对多态位点百分率分析发现：迁飞能力是影响蝗虫种间遗传变异的因素之一,具有迁飞能力的蝗虫（P=88.2%～94.1%）较非迁飞性蝗虫（P=64.7%～94.1%）表现出较高的遗传多态性,但也有例外,如中华稻蝗（Oxya chinensis）的P值高达94.1%,上述结果表明：由于迁飞行为可使个体暴露于各种不同环境,故而种群保持较高的遗传多态性能增强该物种在不同栖息地的生存和繁殖能力,因此,迁飞有利于维持迁飞性蝗虫遗传多态性的动态平衡。根据Nei的遗传一致度（I）和Roger的遗传距离（D）进行分析,结果与基于形态特征确定的分类阶元系统关系基本相符;即同属的小翅雏蝗（Chorthippus fallax）和白纹雏蝗（Chorthippus albonemus）具有最高的遗传一致度（I=0.813）和最小的遗传距离（D=0.336）,同位不同属间遗传一致度（I=0.798～0.559）和遗传距离（D=0.398～0.474）居中,科之间I值最小（I=0.523～0.479）,D值最大（D=0.505～0.523）,利用UPGMA对I值和D值进行聚类,所得两种聚类图在同属种间和同科属间的关系一致,但在科间关系有所差别,Roger的遗传距离（D）聚类树图表明：斑腿蝗科物种和斑翅蝗科物种间表现出较小的遗传距离（D=0.505）,而网翅蝗科与以上两科的遗传距离也极为接近（D=0.523）,综上所述,等位酶分析能较好地反映蝗虫同属种间和同科属间的亲缘关系,若能断更高阶元的系统发生,则需结合其他性状进行综合分析。     

Comparative chromosome maps of neotropical rodents Necromys lasiurus and Thaptomys nigrita (Cricetidae) established by ZOO-FISH

This work presents chromosome homology maps between Mus musculus (MMU) and 2 South American rodent species from the Cricetidae group: Necromys lasiurus (NLA, 2n = 34) and Thaptomys nigrita (TNI, 2n = 52), established by ZOO-FISH using mouse chromosome-specific painting probes. Extending previous molecular cytogenetic studies in Neotropical rodents, the purpose of this work was to delineate evolutionary chromosomal rearrangements in Cricetidae rodents and to reconstruct the phylogenetic relationships among the Akodontini species. Our phylogenetic reconstruction by maximum parsimony analysis of chromosomal characters confirmed one consistent clade of all Neotropical rodents studied so far. In both species analyzed here, we observed the syntenic association of chromosome segments homologous to MMU 8/13, suggesting that this chromosome form is a synapomorphic trait exclusive to Neotropical rodents. Further, the previously described Akodontini-specific syntenic associations MMU 3/18 and MMU 6/12 were observed in N.lasiurus but not in T. nigrita, although the latter species is considered a member of the Akodontini tribe by some authors. Finally, and in agreement with this finding, N.lasiurus and Akodon serrensis share the derived fission of MMU 13, which places them as basal sister clades within Akodontini.     

Use of microsatellites to evaluate genetic diversity and species relationships in the genus Lycopersicon

In order to determine how informative a set of microsatellites from tomato is across the genus Lycopersicon, 17 microsatellite loci, derived from regions in and around genes, were tested on 31 accessions comprising the nine species of the genus. The microsatellite polymorphisms were used to estimate the distribution of diversity throughout the genus and to evaluate the efficacy of microsatellites for establishing species relationships in comparison with existing phylogeny reconstructions. Gene diversity and genetic distances were calculated. A high level of polymorphism was found, as well as a large number of alleles unique for species. The level of polymorphism detected with the microsatellite loci within and among species was highly correlated with the respective mating systems, cross-pollinating species having a significantly higher gene diversity compared to self-pollinating species. In general, microsatellite-based trees were consistent with a published RFLP-based dendrogram as well as with a published classification based on morphology and the mating system. A tree constructed with low-polymorphic loci (gene diversity <0.245) was shown to represent a more-reliable topology than a tree constructed with more-highly polymorphic loci. Received: 19 February 2001 / Accepted: 26 March 2001     

Genetic Divergence and Phylogenetic Relationships in Grey Mullets (Teleostei: Mugilidae) Using Allozyme Data

Genetic divergence and phylogenetic relationships among five species of the Mugilidae family (Liza saliens, Liza aurata, Liza ramada, Chelon labrosus, and Mugil cephalus) were investigated, in the present study, on samples taken from Messolongi lagoon in Greece, using allozyme electrophoresis. Ten enzymic systems corresponding to 22 genetic loci were assayed, among which, four were found to be polymorphic in Liza saliens, Liza aurata, and Chelon labrosus, seven in Liza ramada, while only two were polymorphic in Mugil cephalus. Several loci showed different electrophoretic patterns among the species and thus, they can be useful in species taxonomy as diagnostic markers, as well as for further evolutionary studies. It must be underlined that among them the aGPD-2* locus proved to be species-specific, while the other ones can be also used in various combinations for the same purpose. The observed heterozygosity was found to range from 0.020 to 0.051. Allele frequencies of all loci were used to estimate Nei's (1972) genetic distance, which was found to range between 0.249 and 1.171 among the five species studied. UPGMA and NJ trees, obtained by genetic distance matrix methods, as well as, a tree based on the discrete character parsimony analysis were found to exhibit the same topology. Our result show that the three species of the genus Liza are clustered together, Chelon labrosus being closer to the previous clade, while Mugil cephalus being more distinct.     

High levels of allozyme variation within populations and low allozyme divergence within and among species of Hemerocallis (Liliaceae)

Thirty populations from five species of Hemerocallis in Korea were analyzed by starch gel electrophoresis to measure genetic diversity and to determine genetic population structure and the amount of genetic divergence within and between species at 12 isozyme loci. In addition, Moran's I spatial autocorrelation statistics were used to examine the spatial distribution of allozyme polymorphisms in populations of H. thunbergii and H. hakuunensis. Populations of five Korean species maintain high levels of genetic variation and little differentiation among populations and species. Mean expected heterozygosities range from 0.165 in H. hongdoensis, an island endemic, to 0.265 in H. taeanensis, and a total of 81 alleles across the 12 loci were detected in the five species. G(ST) values for each of the five species were low, ranging from 0.051 in H. taeanensis to 0.078 in H. hakuunensis. Mean intraspecific Nei's genetic identities (I) between populations of the five species were all above 0.97. However, a considerable level of heterozygote deficiencies within populations was detected, ranging from 0.242 to 0.411 measured as F(IS) statistics. This deficiencies may be due to inbreeding, limited pollen and seed dispersal, or from the pooling of subpopulations that differ in allele frequencies. A small spatial scale population substructuring (<12 m) was found in H. thunbergii and H. hakuunensis. A group of populations from each of the five previously designated Hemerocallis species (based on their morphology, ecology, and phenology) agrees with our allozyme data, though pairwise comparisons among species had high I values (from 0.862, H. middendorffii vs. H. hongdoensis, to 0.969, H. thunbergii vs. H. taeanensis). This is attributed to the presence of the same high-frequency alleles in different species at seven loci. In addition, no "diagnostic allele" that appears in all populations of one species, but is absent in other species, was detected at the 12 isozyme loci. These all suggest that species of Hemerocallis in Korea may have recently derived from an ancestor or progenitor harboring high levels of genetic diversity.     

Genetic divergence in four species of the genus Raphanus: Implications for the ancestry of the domestic radish R. sativus

Four species of radish of the genus Raphanus were examined by electrophoresis of water soluble proteins. This technique was used to provide information about the degree of genetic differentiation of the species over a range of gene loci coding for various enzymes. These results give genetic distance estimates showing all four radish species to be closely related. From this data a simple dendrogram is constructed to show the possible interrelationships and evolutionary divergence of these species. The domestic radish Raphanus sativus shows the greatest genetic similarity when compared with an Italian population of R. landra .     

Strong correlation between cross-amplification success and genetic distance across all members of 'True Salamanders' (Amphibia: Salamandridae) revealed by Salamandra salamandra-specific microsatellite loci

The unpredictable and low cross-amplification success of microsatellite loci tested for congeneric amphibian species has mainly been explained by the size and complexity of amphibian genomes, but also by taxonomy that is inconsistent with phylogenetic relationships among taxa. Here, we tested whether the cross-amplification success of nine new and 11 published microsatellite loci cloned for an amphibian source species, the fire salamander (Salamandra salamandra), correlated with the genetic distance across all members of True Salamanders (genera Chioglossa, Lyciasalamandra, Mertensiella and Salamandra that form a monophyletic clade within the family of Salamandridae) serving as target species. Cross-amplification success varied strongly among the species and showed a highly significant negative relationship with genetic distance and amplification success. Even though lineages of S. salamandra and Lyciasalamndra have separated more than 30 Ma, a within genus amplification success rate of 65% was achieved for species of Lyciasalamandra thus demonstrating that an efficient cross-species amplification of microsatellite loci in amphibians is feasible even across large evolutionary distances. A decrease in genome size, on the other hand, paralleled also a decrease in amplified loci and therefore contradicted previous results and expectations that amplification success should increase with a decrease in genome size. However, in line with other studies, our comprehensive dataset clearly shows that cross-amplification success of microsatellite loci is well explained by phylogenetic divergence between species. As taxonomic classifications on the species and genus level do not necessarily mirror phylogenetic divergence between species, the pure belonging of species to the same taxonomic units (i.e. species or genus) might be less useful to predict cross-amplification success of microsatellite loci between such species.     

Genetic differentiation of Helicoverpa armigera (Hübner) and H. assulta (Guenée) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) based on AFLP markers

Abstract Here we use amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) to assess genetic differentiation of Helicoverpa armigera and H. assulta . The results indicated that both species-specific fingerprints and cluster analysis showed the ability of AFLP technique to discriminate the two sibling species; among a total 1963 AFLP markers amplified from nine primer combinations: 777 (39.6%) were H. armigera -specific, 602 (30.7%) were H. assulta -specific, and 584 (29.7%) were common bands. The mean number of H. armigera -specific bands was significantly more than that of H. assulta -specific bands for nine primer combinations ( P < 0.05); the intraspecific distance of H. armigera and H. assulta was 0.123 0 and 0.110 7 respectively, and the interspecific distance was 0.178 3. In addition, the percentage of polymorphic loci and estimated average heterozygosity were used to estimate genetic diversity of the two species. This study therefore demonstrates that AFLP analysis is a sensitive and reliable technique to study genetic differentiation and genetic relationships between species and provides sufficient molecular markers for future linkage map construction, location and eventual cloning of genes involved in traits differentiation.     

三峡库区特有种疏花水柏枝的保护遗传学研究

采用超薄平板微型聚丙烯酰胺等电聚焦电泳方法对三峡库区特有种疏花水柏枝 (Myricarialaxiflora)的 13个自然居群和 1个人工迁地保护居群的等位酶遗传变异进行了初步研究。检测了 5个酶系统 ,得到 13个等位酶位点 ,遗传多样性及其遗传结构分析结果表明 :疏花水柏枝具有较高水平的遗传多样性 ,平均多态位点比率P =78.7% ,每位点平均等位基因数A =1.8,平均预期杂合度He=0 .317,高于中国植物特有种的平均水平 ,且群体中杂合基因型个体偏多 ;其遗传变异主要发生于居群内 ( 84.86 % ) ,居群间又存在一定的遗传分化 (Gst=0 .15 14) ,居群间平均基因流Nm =1.40 1,居群间遗传距离为 0 .0 0 2～ 0 .176 ;UPGMA聚类分析显示疏花水柏枝在三峡湖北境内的白水河—泄滩一带分为上游和下游 2个居群组 ;武汉植物园迁地保护的混合居群基本保育了其遗传多样性总水平。在分析讨论疏花水柏枝遗传多样性与其繁育系统、生境及其起源进化的关系的基础上 ,探讨了疏花水柏枝濒危的主要原因 ,推断其应为第四纪冰期影响后的古孑遗种。最后 ,在评价迁地保护成果的基础上 ,提出了今后进一步保育的策略。     

Parasites as biological markers: evolutionary relationships in the heterospecific combination of helminths (monogeneans) and teleosts (Gadidae)

Analysis of the genetic structure (11 loci) of helminth populations (Monogenea, Diclidophora ), parasites of two teleost species (Gadidae, Trisopterus luscus and T. minutus minulus ) which are sympatric in the Atlantic, revealed the existence of two species which were specific to each of the two hosts. A strong genetic similitude was found between one of these species ( Diclidophora luscae ), a parasite of T. luscus and a monogenean population parasitizing a third Gadidae ( Trisopterus minutus capelanus ) in the Mediterranean. These results led to a re-examinination of the evolutionary systematics of the three host taxa of the genus Trisopterus. Genetic analysis showed differences between the two subspecies T. minutus minutus (Atlantic) and T. minutus capelanus (Mediterranean) at eight of the 16 loci studied. However, there was no significant genetic divergence between T. luscus and T.m. capelanus. A new phyletic structure in the genus Trisopterus is proposed and the evolutionary trends within the Gadidae/Monogenea system are discussed.     

Description of a new species of Ectinorus (E. spiculatus) (Siphonaptera, Rhopalopsyllidae) from Argentina and a review of the subgenus Ichyonus Smit, 1987

A new species, Ectinorus spiculatus, is described from Phyllotis xanthopygus (Waterhouse) and Akodon iniscatus Thomas from Neuquén Province, Argentina. Habitat characteristics are presented for the type locality. A change in status of four additional subspecies of the Ectinorus subgenus Ichyonus Smit is provided. Ectinorus onychius onychius Jordan and Rothschild, Ectinorus onychius deplexus Smit and Ectinorus onychius angularis Smit & Rosicky were elevated to specific status. Ectinorus (Ichyonus) onychius fueginus was relegated as a junior synonym of the nominate species. Phyllotis xanthopygus, Abrothrix olivaceus xanthorhinus, Loxodontomys micropus Waterhouse, and Euneomys chinchilloides (Waterhouse) are new host records for Ectinorus onychius. A key to the three species of Ichyonus is included.     

Genetic structure and differentiation of Psathyrostachys huashanica populations detected with RAPD markers

Psathyrostachys huashanica Keng is a perennial grass and belongs to genus Psathyrostachys under Triticeae.sathyrostachys is found in the center of Middle Asia and the Caucasus Mountain,while P.huashanica,a species endemic to China,is only located in Mt.Hua in the Shaanxi province,China.At present,the population of this species is decreasing,and reaching the edge of extinction.Due to the limitation in distribution and the importance as breeding material for germplasm storage,it has been considered as first class among the national protected rare plants.For this reason,the present study is significant in probing plant flora,origin and evolution of Triticeae,and crop breeding.Randomly amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD)markers were used to analyze the genetic structure and differentiation of P.huashanica populations sampled in three valleys (Huangpu,Xian,and Huashan Valleys)in Mr.Hua.One hundred and twenty-two RAPDfragments were obtained in all 266 individuals with 20 primers with a mean of 6.1 (2-10)fragments per primer.The percentage of polymorphic loci (PPB)was 60.66%in Huangpu Valley,90.98%in Xian Valley,95.08%in Huashan Valley,and the total PPB was 95.08%,which indicated a highly genetic variability of P.huashanica.The Shannon's Information index and GST were 0.3306 and 0.3263,respectively,indicating that there were more genetic variations within the subpopulations than those among the subpopulations.The gene flow among the subpopulations of P.huashanica (Nm=1.0322)was much less than that of the common anemophytes (Nm=5.24).Mean genetic distance is 0.1571(range:0.0022-0.2901).The highest value of genetic distance was found between the subpopulation (hp1)of Huangpu Valley and the highest altitude subpopulation (h8)of Huashan Valley.Correlation analysis detected significant correlation between genetic distance and vertical distance of altitude.Clustering analysis and principal coordinate analysis revealed the genetic differentiation among the populations of P.huashanica.Differentiation mainly occurred between the higher altitude subpopulations and the lower altitude subpopulations,suggesting that altitude might be the major factor that restricted the gene flow between different altitude subpopulations and resulted in differentiation of subpopulations.     

Genetic divergence in four species of the genus Raphanus: Implications for the ancestry of the domestic radish R. sativus

Four species of radish of the genus Raphanus were examined by electrophoresis of water soluble proteins. This technique was used to provide information about the degree of genetic differentiation of the species over a range of gene loci coding for various enzymes. These results give genetic distance estimates showing all four radish species to be closely related. From this data a simple dendrogram is constructed to show the possible interrelationships and evolutionary divergence of these species. The domestic radish Raphanus sativus shows the greatest genetic similarity when compared with an Italian population of R. landra.     

A comparison of the genetic diversity in Dipteronia sinensis Oliv. and Dipteronia dyeriana Henry

Dipteronia is an endemic genus to China and includes only two species, Dipteronia sinensis and D.dyeriana.Based on random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) markers,a comparative study of the genetic diversity and genetic structure of Dipteronia was performed.In total,128 and 103 loci were detected in 17 D.sinensis populations and 4 D.dyeriana populations,respectively,using 18 random primers.These results showed that the proportions of polymorphic loci for the two species were 92.97% and 81.55%,respectively,indicating that the genetic diversity of D.sinensis was higher than that of D.dyeriana.Analysis,based on similarity coefficients,Shannon diversity index and Nei gene diversity index,also confirmed this result.AMOVA analysis demonstrated that the genetic variation of D.sinensis within and among populations accounted for 56.89% and 43.11% of the total variation,respectively,and that of D.dyeriana was 57.86% and 42.14%,respectively.The Shannon diversity index and Nei gene diversity index showed similar results.The abovementioned characteristics indicated that the genetic diversity levels of these two species were extremely similar and that the interpopulational genetic differentiation within both species was relatively high.Analysis of the genetic distance among populations also supported this conclusion.Low levels of interpopulational gene flow within both species were believed to be among the leading causes for the above-mentioned phenomenon.The correlation analysis between genetic and geographical distances showed the existence of a remarkably significant correlation between the genetic distance and the longitudinal difference among populations of D.sinensis (p＜0.01),while no significant correlation was found between genetic and geographical distances among populations of D.dyeriana.This indicated that genetic distance was correlated with geographical distances on a large scale rather than on a small scale.This result may be related to differences in the selection pressure on species by their habitats with different distribution ranges.We suggest that in situ conservation efforts should focus on establishing more sites to protect the natural populations and their habitats.Ex situ conservation efforts should focus on enhancing the exchange of seeds and seedlings among populations to facilitate gene exchange and recombination,and to help conserve genetic diversity.