Studies on genetic diversity among populations of Persicaria barbata (L.) H. Hara from India based on internal transcribed spacer sequences of nuclear ribosomal DNA.

Internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region of nuclear ribosomal DNA from 16 populations of Persicaria barbata (L.) H. Hara (Polygonaceae) belonging to five geographical locations of India (Arunachal Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, Bihar, Karnataka and Andaman Island) was sequenced. Analysis of nucleotide sequences reveals polymorphism among the populations. UPGMA analysis conducted on the ITS datasets shows that the sampled populations of P. barbata are grouped according to their geographic locations and are supposed to be evolved under reproductive isolation which most probably are due to the long distance distribution and population fragmentation.