High genetic diversity and low differentiation of endangered Ferula tadshikorum Pimenov in Tajikistan

Comprehensive research on the genetic diversity and structure of small populations of endangered plants is a prerequisite for their effective conservation and management. Ferula tadshikorum is a critically endangered herbaceous medicinal plant, which has a declining population size in southern Tajikistan. Lack of information about the genetic diversity is a major obstacle in formulating appropriate management strategies for its protection. The present study analysed the genetic diversity and structure of 196 individual plants from six populations by studying a total of 123 alleles. High level of genetic diversity (h(S) = 0.613, h(T) = 0.626, Ho = 0.728, He = 0.605, PIC = 1.207, PPB = 100%) and low levels of genetic variation and differentiation (Fst = 0.029) among populations were detected. It should be noted that no recent genetic bottleneck was observed in the six populations. Structural analysis divided all individuals into two genetic clusters but failed to categorise the populations. Given the association between overexploitation and a decline in the population size of Ferula species, several strategies, including establishing in situ conservation, artificial breeding in botanical gardens for ex situ conservation, developing large-scale artificial cultivation, and exploring synthetic pathways of active components from wild resources, have also been proposed. (C) 2021 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier B.V.