Genetic variability and population structure of endangered Panax ginseng in the Russian Primorye.

Background: The natural habitat of wild P. ginseng is currently found only in the Russian Primorye and the populations are extremely exhausted and require restoration. Analysis of the genetic diversity and population structure of an endangered species is a prerequisite for conservation.

Panax ginseng natural populations: their past, current state and perspectives.

Aim: The mating system of Panax ginseng, genetics and ontogenetic structure of its natural populations of Primorye (Russia) were investigated.

Methods: Genetic diversity was assessed using allozyme and the fluorescently based automated amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) and simple sequence repeats (SSR) markers.

Results: Total genetic diversity at species level is low with allozyme assay (0.