Genetic and morphologic diversity in Castanea mollissima in Yanshan District and the Dabie Mountain district, China.

Genetic and morphological diversity of Castanea mollissima were surveyed in China including Yanshan district and the Dabie Mountain district in the summers of 2005 and 2006. Nine populations including 82 varieties were sampled at Beijing, Hebei, Shandong, Zhejiang, Shanxi, Hubei, Henan, Jiangsu, and Anhui provinces. Allozyme analysis indicates that genetic subdivision is present in all populations at relatively low levels and variation among population is 4.25%. Significant differences existed in allele frequencies among populations. Genetic identity values range from 0.8766 to 0.9978. Within population variation was greater than that among population. Patterns of morphological variance, estimated through measurements of leaf length, leaf width, index of leaf, nut length, nut width, index of nut, weight of nut, paralleled those displayed by allozyme analysis. Species conservation strategies for Castanea mollissima should concentrated on the maintenance of within-population levels of diversity, such as varieties, and protection of adjacent populations.