XVI International Botanical Congess

Chrysopsis floridana Small is an endangered plant endemic to west central Florida. To assess genetic variability, eight populations were compared with a seed stock collection at Bok Tower Gardens(BTG)using RAPD. Objectives were: describe patterns of variation, compare variation to the BTG collection, and apply results to reintroduction programs. Average genetic diversity was high for a geographically restricted endemic. The BTG population was genetically comparable to those of wild populations. The populations do not appear to be highly structured, although allele frequencies differ significantly among the populations. Eighty percent of the variation could be attributed to within population differences. With little genetic differentiation among populations, seed from different populations could be used in recovery programs with little loss of genetic information.