[Objective]To discuss the genetic diversity of Pinellia ternata(Thunb.) Breit in China at molecular level. [Methods] With P. ternatain 23 populations in from 15 provinces as the research materials,DNA of 77 samples were extracted by CTAB method. RAPD-PCR amplification analysis was carried out. And statistical analysis was carried out by DPS software. The Euclidean distance was calculated; and the genetic clustering dendrogram was established. [Results]4 primers were selected out from 24 primers. And 32 amplified bands were obtained by PCR amplification,of which 28 bands were of polymorphism. Thus,the polymorphism rate was as high as 87. 4%. Among the 23 groups,DNA in group I had the highest polymorphism rate in different plants of the same population,which was 73. 7%; and DNA in group L1 had the lowest polymorphism rate of 18. 2%. The average polymorphism rate of 23 groups was 44. 0%. The degrees of variation within and among populations were both high. [Conclusions] Both natural and cultivated populations of P. ternate were highly mixed. Although some plant individuals had the same phenotype,the genotype varied according to the composition of genetic materials. [Methods] With P. ternatain 23 populations in from 15 provinces as the research materials, DNA of 77 samples were extracted by CTAB method. [Objective] To discuss the genetic diversity of Pinellia ternata (Thunb.) Breit in China at molecular level. RAPD-PCR amplification was wasted out by DPS software. The Euclidean distance was calculated; and the genetic clustering dendrogram was established. [Results] 4 primers were selected out from 24 primers. And 32 bands were Thus, the polymorphism rate was as high as 87. 4%. Among the 23 groups, DNA in group I had the highest polymorphism rate in different plants of the same population, which was 73. 7%; and DNA in group L1 had the lowest polymorphism rate of 18. 2%. The average polymorphism rate of 23 groups was 44. 0%. The degrees of variation within and among populations were both high. [Conclusions] Both natural and c Although some plant individuals had the same phenotype, the genotype varied according to the composition of genetic materials.