Abstract
Genetic diversity within populations (Hs) and other polymorphic indicies of two sexually reproduced species of Chinese mosses, Leucodon secundus (HARV.) MITT. var. secundus and L. subulatus BROTH., were estimated by means of enzyme electrophoresis. The Hs value of the former species was 0.153 (se = 0.072); was not much different from those detected in other species of the genus. On the other hand, Hs of the latter was much lower (Hs = 0.009, se = 0.009). The authors consider this low value of Hs detected in L. subulatus, to indicate that the population size of L. subulatus at Mt. O'meiShan was influenced by bottle neck effect or genetic drift in the past. This is the first report of low genetic diversity within populations for sexually reproducing mosses.
