Genetic diversity of Lilium cernuum in China by ISSR markers and morphological variations

Information on genetic diversity and population structure is currently lacking for populations of Lilium cernuum in China, yet it's needed to inform conservation efforts and breeding programs, and to promote commercialization. In this study, we use molecular markers of inter-simple sequence repeat (ISSR) and morphological traits to characterize the genetic diversity of L. cernuum sampled from eight populations in northeastern China. The total percentage of polymorphic bands was 91.14%, the Nei's genetic diversity index was 0.26, Shannon's information index was 0.41, and the coefficient of gene differentiation among populations was 0.13. Genetic differentiation within populations was much higher than among populations. The phylogenic patterns of populations revealed by molecular markers were not strictly correlated with the geographical position or the characteristics of sites.