Genetic diversity of Hypericum perforatum collected from the Qinling Mountains of China

The genetic diversity among samples of Hypericum perforatum L. collected from the Qinling Mountains in China were studied using SRAP molecular markers and 12 SRAP primer combinations. A total of 183 bands and 153 polymorphic bands were obtained that accounted for 83.6% of the polymorphism. Analysis by the UPGMA method grouped the samples into three main clusters, with coefficients of similarity ranging from 0.57 to 0.97. Morphological traits were correlated with four of the contents of phenolic compounds, chlorogenic acid, rutin, hyperoside and quercitroside. Correlation analysis revealed that the hyperoside concentration was significantly and positively correlated with the density of black glands found along the vertical edges of the stem. The information generated by the SRAP markers was closely associated with some morphological variability. However, there was only a partial correlation between the chemistry and genetic data.