Gene Flow Among Populations of Epidendrum conopseum

Abstract

Epidendrum conopseum is an epiphytic orchid that grows in very wet, warm habitats. It is found in the United States as far north as North Carolina. This study examined three populations in Florida. The polymerase chain reaction was used to produce DNA fingerprints for each of the 43 plants sampled. These fingerprints were then analyzed using the analysis of molecular variance (AMOVA) to determine the genetic diversity in the populations. Also, the fingerprints were used to examine the relationship between genetic differences and physical distances between the populations. A low amount of variation (11.87%) was found among the populations