Genetic diversity of two local populations of the Ural endemic and the Pleistocene relict Scorzonera glabra Rupr. (Asteraceae) from the surroundings of Karabashskiy Copper-Smelting Plant (impact) and mountain Egosa (background) was studied using ISSR markers. The results show that the level of polymorphism is high in both populations. Analysis of molecular variance (AMOVA) show that the large portion of the variability (85 %) determines by intrapopulation one. There are no significant differences in genetic diversity among local populations. We suppose that S. glabra being a plastic species has pre-adaptations that allow it to grow under impact conditions.