Molecular markers for conservation of rare plant species in the Far East region

The prospective for using molecular approaches in conservation and traditio nal biological studies is reviewed. The focus is on the methods of allozyme analysis and the polymerase chain reaction with random primers (randomly a mplified polymorphisms of DNA) used to study genome polymorphism and geneti c structure in the populations of Panax ginseng C.A. Meyer and to tag the s pecies in the genus Iris. The feasibility of these approaches; is discussed , in the context of developing a strategy for conservation and the reintrod uction of the rare and vanishing plant species.