Abstract
Panax quinquefolius L., commonly known as American ginseng, is a perennial herb imperiled in parts of its range and listed under Appendix II of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species due to threats from overharvesting. American ginseng roots are commonly used in Traditional Chinese Medicine to treat a range of ailments. The preference for human-shaped roots has caused an increase in demand for wild grown plants, which has caused a drastic decrease in range-wide abundance of American ginseng populations. In this study, seven microsatellite loci were used to examine patterns of genetic diversity in American ginseng populations. Allelic and genotypic diversity varied by population but not by population protection status. In addition, populations showed significant genotypic overlap. Reasons for genetic similarities among populations are unclear but could be due to contemporary gene flow amongst populations or historic fragmentation of a larger population. Results could be used to repatriate poached plants or prioritize site protection.
How to Cite
Miller, T., (2022) “Genetic Diversity of Panax quinquefolius L. Across Geographic Distance”, Capstone, The UNC Asheville Journal of Undergraduate Scholarship 35(1).
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