Conservation genetics and geographic patterns of genetic variation of the endangered officinal herb Fritillaria pallidiflora
18 November 2014
Su, Zhihao; Pan, Borong; Sanderson, Stewart C.; Jiang, Xiaolong; Zhang, MingliFritillaria pallidiflora is an endangered officinal herb distributed in the Tianshan Mountains of Northwestern China. We examined its phylogeography to study evolutionary processes and obtain implications for conservation. Six haplotypes were detected based on three chloroplast noncoding spacers (psbA-trnH, rps16, and trnS-trnG); genetic variation mainly occurred among populations and SAMOVA groups. This species is distributed in different deep valleys, and we speculate that these fragmented habitats formed gene flow barriers among the populations and groups. We also speculate that during glacial periods, extremely low temperatures and aridity caused additional range shrinkage and fragmentation, factors consequently resulting in significant intraspecific differentiation in allopatric regions. For setting a conservation management plan, we confirmed the Lucaogou region as the area of greatest emphasis, and we designated two ESUs for separate management.