The genetic population structure of the wild Cranberry Vaccinium oxycoccus was studied using RAPDs (random amplified polymorphic DNA). During the last century, intensive peat bogs drainage, regulation of water levels, and intensive cranberry picking has caused a risk for survival of wild cranberry Vaccinium oxycoccus populations in Lithuania. Genetic variation among and within isolated V. oxycoccus populations was investigated with RAPD profiles. Fifty-six clones were sampled in four populations at the Čepkeliai, Žuvintas, Kamanos Reserves and Aukštaitijos National Park. RAPD analyses of nine primers showed 213 polymorphic loci in the samples. The polymorphism level in the Čepkeliai rezerve population was 56.34%, in Žuvintas 49.77%, in Kamanos 46.95% and in Aukštatija 43.19%. Polymorphism among populations was 100%. For the total sample group, Shannon's Information Index was 0.2 and Nei's gene diversity 0.12. The estimated total proportion of diversity among populations (GST) and gene flow (Nm) were 0.14 and 3.1, respectively. The UPGMA analyses have revealed that populations of V. oxycoccus are clearly separated into four lineages and only one Čepkeliai lineage had a homogenous haplotype. Others Žuvintas, Kamanos and Aukštatijos lineages differed from each other. One clone sampled from Aukštatija National Park (a8) had a unique haplotype.
