Illicium griffithii is an aromatic medicinal tree species that has been listed in the IUCN Red List as an endangered species. Dried seed pods of I. griffithii have a good market potential in the spices and pharmaceutical industries. Fruits are the potential source of shikimic acid and used for the production of oseltamivir (a drug against bird flu). However, in recent years, unscientific harvesting and rampant exploitation of the species has caused a negative and adverse effect on its natural population. Proper knowledge of genetic diversity and population structure is crucial to understand the population dynamics, adaptation, and evolutionary pattern of a particular species for conservation. It was from this view point that the present study was undertaken so as to compare the various types of DNA-based molecular markers namely RAPD, ISSR, DAMD, and SCoT by their efficiency and SPAR approach to evaluate the genetic diversity of I. griffithii as well as to analyze population genetic structure for conservation purpose. A total of 250 discernible bands were generated with 246 bands (98.40 %) being polymorphic in nature. All the primers in combination gave a mean polymorphic information content (PIC) of 0.81 and Rp value (resolving power) of 4.32. Nei’s, Gst, and AMOVA analysis showed similar values of genetic differentiation among populations (Gst = 0.396, FST = 0.30, respectively), revealing a low level of genetic differentiation among the eight sampled populations. I. griffithii with an estimated gene flow value of Nm = 0.761 was significantly low among populations. Clustering pattern obtained with Bayesian structure and PCoA diagram revealed that intermixing of genetic material across populations is only possible when the populations lie close to each other. This is further validated with UPGMA clustering method where a positive correlation of genetic variability with geographical distance among closely related populations could be clearly seen. The result aids in the identification, collection, and preservation of diverse germplasm of I. griffithii from Arunachal Pradesh and Meghalaya of Northeast India. This would further help in understanding the population structure and genetic diversity among other Illicium species in order to formulate effective conservation strategies for the improvement of this endangered taxa.

中文翻译：

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使用分子标记和 SPAR 方法在印度东北部具有重要药用价值的濒危物种 Illicium griffithii 中进行遗传多样性和种群结构评估

八角八角是一种芳香药用树种，已被世界自然保护联盟红色名录列为濒危物种。I. griffithii 的干种荚在香料和制药行业具有良好的市场潜力。水果是莽草酸的潜在来源，用于生产奥司他韦（一种抗禽流感的药物）。然而，近年来，不科学的捕捞和对该物种的猖獗开发对其自然种群造成了负面和不利的影响。正确了解遗传多样性和种群结构对于了解特定保护物种的种群动态、适应和进化模式至关重要。正是从这个观点出发，进行本研究是为了比较各种类型的基于 DNA 的分子标记，即 RAPD、ISSR、DAMD、和 SCoT 通过它们的效率和 SPAR 方法来评估 I. griffithii 的遗传多样性以及分析种群遗传结构以进行保护。总共产生了 250 个可辨别的条带，其中 246 个条带 (98.40%) 是多态的。所有引物组合的平均多态信息含量 (PIC) 为 0.81，Rp 值（分辨率）为 4.32。Nei's、Gst 和 AMOVA 分析显示种群之间的遗传分化值相似（分别为 Gst = 0.396、FST = 0.30），表明八个采样种群之间的遗传分化水平较低。估计基因流值为 Nm = 0.761 的 I. griffithii 在种群中显着较低。使用贝叶斯结构和 PCoA 图获得的聚类模式表明，只有当种群彼此靠近时，才能在种群之间混合遗传物质。UPGMA 聚类方法进一步验证了这一点，其中可以清楚地看到遗传变异性与密切相关人群之间地理距离的正相关。该结果有助于鉴定、收集和保存来自印度东北部阿鲁纳恰尔邦和梅加拉亚邦的 I. griffithii 的不同种质。这将进一步有助于了解其他八角属物种的种群结构和遗传多样性，以便制定有效的保护策略来改善这种濒危分类群。UPGMA 聚类方法进一步验证了这一点，其中可以清楚地看到遗传变异性与密切相关人群之间地理距离的正相关。该结果有助于鉴定、收集和保存来自印度东北部阿鲁纳恰尔邦和梅加拉亚邦的 I. griffithii 的不同种质。这将进一步有助于了解其他八角属物种的种群结构和遗传多样性，以便制定有效的保护策略来改善这种濒危分类群。UPGMA 聚类方法进一步验证了这一点，其中可以清楚地看到遗传变异性与密切相关人群之间地理距离的正相关。该结果有助于鉴定、收集和保存来自印度东北部阿鲁纳恰尔邦和梅加拉亚邦的 I. griffithii 的不同种质。这将进一步有助于了解其他八角属物种的种群结构和遗传多样性，以便制定有效的保护策略来改善这种濒危分类群。griffithii 来自印度东北部的阿鲁纳恰尔邦和梅加拉亚邦。这将进一步有助于了解其他八角属物种的种群结构和遗传多样性，以便制定有效的保护策略来改善这种濒危分类群。griffithii 来自印度东北部的阿鲁纳恰尔邦和梅加拉亚邦。这将进一步有助于了解其他八角属物种的种群结构和遗传多样性，以便制定有效的保护策略来改善这种濒危分类群。