A Comparative Analysis of Genetic Variability and Differentiation in Panax vietnamensis Ha et Grushv. and P. ginseng C.A. Meyer Using ISSR Markers

Abstract

A comparative analysis of the genetic variability and differentiation of rare medicinal ginseng species, Panax vietnamensis Ha et Grushv. and P. ginseng C.A. Meyer, was carried out using inter-simple sequence repeat markers. It was demonstrated that all the genetic diversity parameters of Vietnamese ginseng were high and considerably exceeded those of P. ginseng. On the contrary, the level of genetic differentiation was higher in true ginseng. It is suggested that the differences in the levels of genetic variability and differentiation of the two ginseng species were influenced by the demographic history, peculiarities of the reproductive system, and human activity.