AbstractThe cashew,Anacardium occidentale, is a globally important tropical fruit tree, but little is known about its natural infraspecific systematics. Wild Brazilian populations occur in the cerrado biome and coastal restinga vegetation. We investigated whether wild coastal and domesticated populations could be distinguished genetically using inter-simple repeat molecular markers (ISSRs). In total, 94 polymorphic loci from five primers were used to characterise genetic diversity, structure and differentiation in four wild restinga populations and four domesticated ones from eight localities in Piauí state (30 individuals per population). Genetic diversity was greater overall in wild (%P: 57.2%,I: 0.24,H_e: 0.15) than domesticated populations (%P: 49.5%,I: 0.19,H_e: 0.12). Significant structure was observed among the eight populations (between-population variance 22%,Φ_PT = 0.217,P ≥ 0.001), but only weak distinctions between wild and domesticated groups. Cluster and principal coordinate analyses showed marked genetic disparity in populations. No correlation of genetic and geographical inter-population distance was found (Mantel test,r = 0.02032,P = 0.4436). Bayesian analysis found an eight-group optimal model (ΔK = 50.2,K = 8), which mostly corresponded to sampled populations. Wild populations show strong genetic heterogeneity within a small geographical area despite probable gene flow between them. Within-population genetic diversity of wild plants varied considerably and was lower where extractive activities by local people are most intense (Labino population). The study underlines the importance of wild populations as in situ genetic reserves and the urgent need for further studies to support their conservation.