Genetic diversity analysis and simple sequence repeat fingerprint construction of <i>Acer</i> <i>truncatum </i>bunge germplasm from udantara natural reserve, China

Acer truncatum Bunge is an ecologically and economically indigenous tree species in China, which is valued for ornamental, medicinal, and ecological contributions. As a major natural population of A. truncatum in China, the Udantara Natural Reserve harbors critical genetic resources for this species. To enhance genetic understanding and support conservation efforts, we analyzed the genetic diversity and population structure of 104 A. truncatum germplasm from Udantara using 20 pairs of simple sequence repeat (SSR) primers. Totally, 137 alleles were amplified, including 58.060 effective alleles. The average number of alleles (Na), effective number of alleles (Ne), observed heterozygosity (Ho), expected heterozygosity (He), and Shannon’s information index (I) were 6.850, 2.903, 0.424, 0.591, and 1.182, respectively, and the polymorphism information content (PIC) of the markers ranged between 0.293–0.839, with an average of 0.548, indicating moderate-to-high informativeness. The structure analysis partitioned the germplasm into two distinct genetic groups (28 and 76 individuals, respectively). Additionally, five SSR primers were identified as sufficient for generating unique genetic fingerprints for all 104 germplasm. Based on these findings, we propose a dual conservation strategy that integrates in situ protection of natural habitats within Udantara and ex situ preservation through a nationwide germplasm repository. Further recommendations include expanding the genetic representation by collecting germplasm across China and developing novel variants via hybridization and selective introduction. This study provides foundational genetic insights and actionable strategies to safeguard the biodiversity of A. truncatum, ensuring its ecological resilience and sustainable utilization in China.