An analysis of genetic heterogeneity was performed for two populations of Ophrys insectifera L. located in the Berezinsky Biosphere Reserve and the Verkudy village. The species are critically endangered (CR). The analysis of data obtained using iPBS markers detected the higher risk of extinction of the population in the Berezinsky Biosphere Reserve than the population from the Verkudy village, since the level of population genetic heterogeneity from the Verkudy is higher compared to the Berezinsky Biosphere Reserve. Molecular variance analysis (AMOVA) and other parameters of genetic variation showed the major fraction of intrapopulation variation (64 %, Gst = 0.26). Principal Coordinates Analysis (PCoA) revealed two groups that coincided with natural populations, and confirmed a larger genetic heterogeneity in the population from the Verkudy.

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Inter-primer binding site (iPBS) molecular retrotransposon-based markers are a universal and simple tool to estimate genetic diversity. The goal of this study was to select highly informative iPBS primers to be used in studies of intraspecific genetic diversity of cloudberry (Rubus chamaemorus L.), a common plant species of the boreal zone, associated with raised bog habitats and transitional bogs. Initially, 75 iPBS primers were screened and three of the most informative primers (indicated by numbers 2298, 2277, and 2229) were selected based on the highest number of polymorphic bands and PIC (polymorphic information content) values. Electrophoretic analysis revealed 34 bands amplified with primer 2229, 25 bands with primer 2298, and 22 bands with primer 2277. The percentage of polymorphic loci ranged from 90.9 to 97.1% and PIC values ranged from 0.4885 to 0.4965, indicating potential of the selected primers to be applied in population genetic studies of R. chamaemorus.