[Genetic diversity of microsatellites (SSRs) of natural populations of Quercus variabilis].

Genetic diversity of five Quercus variabilis natural populations in four provinces of China was studied with microsatellite (SSR) markers. A relatively high level of genetic diversity was detected in Q. variabilis species with 16 polymorphic microsatellite loci. Average number of alleles (A) and effective number of alleles (N(e)) were 8.4375 and 5.9512 respectively. The mean expected heterozygosity (H(e)) was 0.8059 and Nei diversity index (h) was 0.8041. Higher diversity was found with the populations from the central range of the species in contrast to those from peripheral areas and human activities might decrease the genetic diversity of populations. The majority of genetic variation occurred within populations, which could be concluded from the low coefficient of genetic differentiation (F(st)=0.0455). In addition, significant correlation was found between geographical distance and genetic distance. All these results present a basis to the conservation and utilization of genetic diversity of Quercus variabilis.