19th Annual Student Research Conference
Science
Analysis of the Genetic Diversity Between Central and Peripheral Baptisia lanceolata Populations
Jennifer J. Steinhoff
Dr. Stephanie Fore, Faculty Mentor
Baptisia lanceolata is a woody perennial found in the wooded areas of Georgia, South Carolina, Alabama and Northern Florida This species is listed in South Carolina as one with conservation concern as there are few populations. The objective of this study was to determine if the peripheral South Carolina populations are genetically different than the central Georgia populations. Leaf samples were collected from six populations in Georgia and South Carolina. Starch gel electrophoresis of polymorphic loci was performed to determine the allele frequencies for each individual collected. Genetic diversity was consistently low in all populations and genetic differentiation among the populations was small. From the perspective of the species genetic diversity, data from this study suggests preservation of the few South Carolina populations is not essential to gene pool conservation. The low genetic diversity within and among populations suggests that the species has experienced a bottleneck
Keywords: rare plant, population genetics
Topic(s):Biology
Presentation Type: Oral Paper
Session: 53-2
Location: VH 1432
Time: 3:00