ABSTRACT
Object To research on genetic relationship among the main populations of Salvia miltiorrhiza Bge. and the genuineness of the herb. Methods From main distributed places, 44 samples (including nine populations) were analyzed by RAPD. The data of amplified bands were analyzed by the software NTSYS-pc and AMOVA. Results (1) From more than 100 primers, 11 primers producing polymorphism and reproduceable bands were selected, 129 bands were amplified. (2) The percentage of polymorphic bands within different populations were 20.9%-55.0%. (3) The cluster map including all samples were obtained by UPGMA. In the map, there were six cluster groups and three individuals outside the groups. The branch with five samples of Zhongjiang Sichuan population were far from other samples in genetic distance. (4) According to the distribution provinces five groups were divided in genetic variance analysis. Genetic variance 80.44% existing within population, 8.29% among populations and 11.27% among groups. Conclusion (1) The genetic diversity within population of S. miltiorrhiza is plentiful. (2) The seeds of the cultivated population in Shandong and Henan Provinces come from the wild ones of same places. The cultivated plants lack artificial selection. The decrease of chemical compound is mainly due to the undesired condition of cultivating. (3) The genetic differentiation among the populations from different provinces is unbalance. Two population from Zhongjiang Sichuan and Chengde Hebei are far from the other population. (4) The genuineness of Radix Salviae Miltiorrhizae should be decided according to modern evaluation system. The herbs from some places of Shandong and Henan should be genuine ones.