Genetic diversity of Curcuma alismatifolia Gagnep. (Zingiberaceae) in Thailand as revealed by allozyme polymorphism

Allozyme polymorphism at seven loci (TPI, G6PD-2, IDH-1, SKD-2, MDH-1, GOT- 1, and GOT-2) was employed to detect the level of genetic diversity in C. a lismatifolia populations from both cultivated and wild habitats in Thailand . High diversity was observed in all populations with relatively lower valu es in cultivated populations. Percentage of polymorphic loci (P) varied fro m 85.7-100% in cultivated populations compared with 100% in all natural pop ulations. Allele number per locus (A(L)) was 3.14 in cultivated populations , and from 2.86-4 in natural populations. Allele number per polymorphic loc us (A(p)) of cultivated and natural populations ranged from 3.14-3.5 and 2. 86-4, respectively. Genetic diversity within populations (H-S) varied from 0.586-0.611 in cultivated and from 0.621-0.653 in natural populations. The genetic identity (I-SP) for the species was 0.833. The cultivated populatio ns yielded higher value of genetic identity with highland populations (I-C/ H = 0.776) than with the lowland ones (I-C/L = 0.754). The analysis of gene tic similarities with the Neighbor-Joining algorithm results in the separat ion of cultivated populations from all wild populations. One highland popul ation from the tourist spot, H2, was placed in a separate cluster between t he cultivated and other wild populations. It is considered as the possible origin of the cultivated populations.