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Randomly and specifically amplified polymorphic DNA banding patterns based on polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analysis were used to assess the intraspecific genetic variations and relationships within Epimedium koreanum populations. A collection of 21 individuals were classified as different accessions by morphological characters such as leaflet number, shape of leaf base, cauline length, plant height, and leaf area. PCR amplification using 12 primers out of 62 primers (60 random [10-mer] primers, one 15mer primer [M13 core sequence], and (GGAT)₄) rusulted in 89 amplified DNA fragments with polymorphisms (80.9/0) in all of the tested plants. Similarity indices between accessions were computed from PCR data, and genetic relationships among intraspecific variations were closely related at the levels ranging from 0.66 to 0.93. These DNA data were not matched well with those of morphological characters since they were divided into two major groups at the similarity coefficient value of 0.74. Primers OPA-13 and OPE-04 gave rise to monomorphic bands in all of examined plants, but specific primers (M13 core and (GGAT)₄ sequences) were found to be very valuable molecular markers to evaluate the intraspecific variations in Epimediurn koreanum.
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