Genetic Differences Within and Among American Ginseng (Panax quinquefolius L.) Locations in Western North Carolina and Northern Virginia

American ginseng (Panax quinquefolius L.) is widely viewed as a medicinal plant and has been harvested in the mountains of North America since the late 1600s. Populations appear to have diminished in size, according to historical records; the plants self-pollinate more than they outcross and there are no known seed dispersers. Additionally, harvesters of American ginseng are thought to occasionally mix seeds from different populations. It is my hypothesis that this life history would seem to isolate populations, allowing them to become genetically distinct from one another, and keep genetic diversity low within populations. To explore these ideas amplified fragment length polymorphisms (AFLPs) were used to examine the genetic diversity within and among locations of American ginseng in North Carolina and northern Virginia. Clear genetic differences emerged when comparing geographically separated locations of American ginseng. Sample sites within a geographical location, however, showed no clear genetic differences. Overall, and contradictory to my original hypothesis, there was a high level of genetic diversity within sites but not as much diversity among locations. Conservation efforts should be enacted that encourage population growth and the maintenance of current levels of genetic diversity.