Abstract: The genetic diversity of thirty cultivars of Prunus avium L. and P. pseudocerasus Lindl. were
evaluated by 24 pairs of SSR p rimers. The aim of the study is to reveal the genetic diversity in Cerasus and
help to exp loit and make use of the germp lasm of Cerasus. The results showed that the Shannon2weaver index
of genetic diversity ranged from 1.3647 to 2.9964 and the Simp son index from 0.6111 to 0.9326, which indi
cated that the Cerasus has abundant genetic diversity. The molecular clustering showed some rules in the geo
graphical distribution. The cultivars used in this studywere divided into 2 group s by cluster analysis: P. avi
um L and P. pseudocerasus Lindl. , which was in agreementwith the traditional taxonomy on Cerasus. Moreo
ver, P. avium L. was subdivided into 3 subgroup s, and P. pseudocerasus L indl. into 2 subgroup s respective
ly. The cluster results showed that the molecular classification of Cerasus in China had some relativity to the
geographic taxonomic system, which reflected the genetic and territorial character of Cerasus.

Key words: Cerasus, Cultivar, Genetic diversity, SSR