Microsatellite analysis of genetic diversity and population genetic structure of the sporophytes of Undaria pinnatifida (phaeophyceae) in Dalian of China

Genetic diversity and population genetic structure of Undaria pinnatifida populations in Dalian of China were studied based on fourteen microsatellite loci. A relatively low level of genetic diversity was observed from the accessions collected from 165 individuals of four populations, including two natural populations, one cultured population and introduced population from Japan. The fourteen microsatellites revealed a total of 42 alleles, with an average of 3 alleles per locus. A comparison of the parameters showing genetic diversity, including the observed heterozygosity (Ho), gene diversity (He) and Shannon´s information index (I) of Undaria pinnatifida accessions from different populations in Dalian of China, indicated that four populations possesses similar genetic diversity. Genetic distance between two natural populations was low, confirming high gene flow between these two areas. Moreover, genetic distance between introduced population and other population was the highest.