Genetic diversity of Stemona parviflora: A threatened myrmecochorous medicinal plant in China

The plant species Stemona parviflora, which is endemically distributed in Hainan and Guangdong Provinces of China, is an important constituent of Chinese traditional medicine “Baibu”. Based on AFLP analysis, at the species level, the percentage of polymorphic bands (PPB), gene diversity H, and Shannon's information index I of S. parviflora are 100%, 0.2826, and 0.4458, respectively. The genetic differentiation among populations is low (Gst = 0.0799), while the gene flow among these populations is high (Nm = 5.754). Actually, no distinguishable genetic structure is inferred according to the AFLP analysis in this study. There was no significant positive correlation between genetic distance and geographic distance either. Based on its medicinal use, seed dispersal pattern (myrmecochory), mating system, fragmentation of the natural habitat by rubber and eucalyptus planting, and the historical formation and transition of Hainan island and Guangdong provinces, we discuss the current threatened condition of the traditional medicinal plant S. parviflora. In/ex situ conservation tactics are recommended to save this important species.