[Objective] This study aimed to analyze the genetic structure of eight populations of Spartina alterniflora in China at the nuclear DNA level.[Method] The EH277045-derived sequences were amplified from 75 samples in 8 populations and directly sequenced.Nucleotide diversity,haplotype diversity,the mean value of Nei＇s genetic distance,genetic differentiation index FST and other genetic parameters were calculated to estimate the genetic diversity and genetic differentiation of S.alterniflora populations in China.[Result] 75 samples were divided into 25 haplotypes by 28 polymorphic sites.Relatively high nucleotide diversity（π=0.011） and haplotype diversity（Hd=0.794） were detected.The mean value of Nei＇s genetic distance and genetic differentiation index FST among eight populations were 0.056 and 0.222,respectively,the Nei＇s genetic distance ranged from 0.000 to 0.189 and FST ranged from 0.000 to 0.444 between each pair of the eight populations.AMOVA result revealed that 79% and 21% of the total genetic variation was partitioned within and among S.alterniflora populations,respectively.[Conclusion] At the nuclear DNA level,there were a relatively high level of genetic diversity and a relatively low level of genetic differentiation among S.alterniflora populations in China,and the genetic diversity existed mainly within rather than among populations.
