Objective: To provide an important scientific basis for Ferula ferulaeoides germplasm resources and quality evaluation through the study on correlation between the volatile oil and the genetic diversity of F. ferulaeoides. Method: The content of volatile oil of F. ferulaeoide from different origins was determined

and the genetic diversity of 176 samples from 8 counties in Xinjiang was studied with inter-simple sequence repeat(ISSR) molecular marker technique

and then the grey relational analysis (GRA) was used to analyze the effect of genetic diversity on the volatile oil content of F. ferulaeoides. Result: The ISSR analysis of the F. ferulaeoides samples was carried out by using 15 primers

a total of 126 clear bands were amplified and 93 of them were polymorphic. The highest level of genetic diversity among the 8 populations was in Yumin County[percentage of polymorphic bands (PPB)=29.37%

Shannon's information index (I)=0.1643

Nei's diversity index (H)=0.1104]

and the lowest level was in Qinghe County (PPB=19.05%

H=0.0705

I=0.1054). The genetic distance of F. ferulaeoides was greatest Shawan County and Fuyun County in Xinjiang (0.2199)

with the lowest genetic identity (0.8026)

indicating that these two areas had the farthest genetic relationship and great genetic differences. The genetic diversity of F. ferulaeoides calculated with H

I and PPB showed a strong correlation to the total contents of ginsenol

camphor

γ-eudesmol and volatile oils. Conclusion: The genetic variation was 63.08% in F. ferulaeoides between different populations

and 36.92% within the same population. The geographic distribution of F. ferulaeoides was significantly correlated with its genetic diversity

and the Nei's diversity index among the three factors had a greater impact on the volatile composition and content of F. ferulaeoide.