Genetic diversity and population structure of endangered Neofinetia falcata (Orchidaceae) in South Korea based on microsatellite analysis

초록

Population genetic assessment is essential for the conservation and management of endangered and rare plants. Neofinetia falcata is endangered epiphyte orchid and protected by law in Korea. In Korea, this species is only found on islands in the South Sea of Korea (including Jeju-do) and the southern coast of the Korean Peninsula. We developed nine microsatellite makers to assess the genetic diversity and population genetic structure of three populations of N. falcata. The genetic diversity at the species level was low, which can be attributed to inbreeding or fragmentation into small, isolated populations. A recent bottleneck was detected in one population, likely due to overcollection. N. falcata exhibited moderated levels of differentiation among populations, with the three populations were divided into two clusters based on genetic structure. The genetic diversity and structure of N. falcata are affected by restricted gene flow by pollen or seeds due to isolation and geographic distance. Strategies for in situ and ex situ conservation of this species are been proposed based on the results of our study.

키워드