Genetic diversity in Primula obconica (Primulaceae) from central and south-west China as revealed by ISSR markers.

Genetic diversity was investigated in 60 individuals of Primula obconica from four natural populations (from Hubei, central China, and Sichuan, south-west China) and from cultivated material. Inter-simple sequence repeat (ISSR) techniques produced 249 polymorphic bands and identified 60 ISSR genotypes. Based on Shannon's index and Nei's genetic diversity, the genetic diversity detected in all natural populations of P. obconica was much higher than that in the cultivated plants, and that in the three Dalaoling (Hubei) populations was higher than that in the Wawushan (Sichuan) population. UPGMA cluster analysis showed that there was no distinct genetic differentiation between populations from the Mt Dalaoling area and the Mt Wawushan area. This study provides a population-level genetic profile of P. obconica, which was previously poorly known but which is important for Primula breeding and cultivation.