Genetic structure of Polygonatum cyrtonema in Anhui province from eastern China

Polygonatum cyrtonema Hua, a rhizome-propagating herb endemic to China, is
often used in many traditional Chinese medicines and foods. The hilly
mountains in western and southern Anhui province is one of its main
natural distribution and artificial cultivation areas. The genetic
diversity and structure of P. cyrtonema germplasm resources in Anhui were
assessed by 9 pairs of SSR primers. The results showed that the 13 sampled
populations of P. cyrtonema possessed normal levels of genetic diversity
and could be clustered into three genetic groups, i.e. group I (MC, FLS,
BJS, HHGD, JHGS, JHHS), group II (YLC, HG, HGGS, HT), and group III (TTZ,
YLP, TZS). The levels of genetic diversity of three groups were similar,
but their distribution areas and morphological characters were remarkably
different. Group I is confined to Tianmu (including Jiuhua) Mountains,
Group II is distributed in Huangshan Mountains, and Group III is
restricted in Dabie Mountains. In morphology, the leaf length:width ratio
significantly differed among groups, and the peduncle length of group I
was significantly shorter than that of the other two groups. In addition,
the genetic differentiation among groups was closer to that of related
species within the genus. Thus these three genetic groups of P. cyrtonema
should be considered as independent units for conservation and breeding
management in the Anhui region.