Use of the bulked genomic DNA-based RAPD methodology to assess the genetic diversity among abandoned Korean tea plantations

The variability of 20 abandoned Korean tea plantations was investigated using the RAPD methodology and thebulked DNA procedure. Out of 50 primers screened, 13 revealed diversity among the populations and generated26 polymorphic markers in all. Two and two populations were indistinguishable from each other and in general,the diversity detected among the populations was relatively low. The genetic distance calculated from theJaccard's variability index varied from 0 to 0.79 with an average of 0.44. The low genetic diversity found in thisstudy could be explained by the narrow genetic base of the Korean tea populations introduced from MainlandChina, by the short history and relatively homogeneous environment of the populations, by mass destruction oflocal tea plantations in the 14th century and by the reproductive mode of Camellia sinensis. Indeed, Camellia sinensis being a highly outcrossing species maintains high intrapopulationnal variability as compared to itsinterpopulation variability. In the light of the results obtained, a strategy for local tea conservation is discussed.