Isolation and identification of EST-SSR markers in Chunia bucklandioides (Hamamelidaceae).

PREMISE OF THE STUDY: Chunia bucklandioides (Hamamelidaceae), endemic to Hainan, China, is listed as threatened in the IUCN Red List and is now only found on Mt. Diaoluo and Mt. Jianfeng. Thus, microsatellite markers were developed for future conservation genetic studies of this species.

METHODS AND RESULTS: A total of 115 primers were designed on the basis of the transcriptome data of C. bucklandioides. Of them, 59 successfully amplified in C. bucklandioides and polymorphisms were detected in 11; the number of alleles per locus varied from two to five, the observed heterozygosity ranged from 0.000 to 0.941, and the expected heterozygosity ranged from 0.000 to 0.699. A total of 13 primers amplified in Mytilaria laosensis, and five primers amplified in Exbucklandia tonkinensis and E. populnea.

CONCLUSIONS: The markers screened here provide a basis to assess genetic structure and further establish conservation strategies for C. bucklandioides.