Genetic Diversity and Population Structure of Endangered Orchid in Fragmented Habitat Using Fluorescent AFLP Markers.

Genetic diversity is crucial for determining the evolutionary potential of a species and is essential for developing optimal conservation strategies. The impact of habitat fragmentation on the genetic diversity of food-deceptive orchids seems to be unpredictable because of their specialized seed and pollen dispersal mechanisms. The habitat of deceptive was severely fragmented during the past half century. This study investigated the genetic diversity and structure of seven fragmented populations in Shangrila County using AFLP markers. A total of 376 alleles were identified, with a range of 70 to 81 alleles per locus. The species exhibited considerable genetic diversity, as evidenced by an average Nei's gene diversity () of 0.339 and a Shannon's information index () of 0.505, with all loci being polymorphic. Based on Molecular Variance (AMOVA), 8.75% of the genetic differentiation was found among populations, while the remaining 91.25% of genetic variation occurred within populations. Population structure analysis revealed that the germplasm can be categorized into 2 distinct groups, among which there was significant gene flow. Despite habitat fragmentation, still retained a high level of genetic diversity, and the substantial gene flow (5.0826) is a key factor in maintaining the genetic diversity. These findings offer valuable insights for the conservation and potential use of genetic resources.