Isolation and characterization of microsatellite markers in the Lepisorus clathratus complex (Polypodiaceae).

PREMISE OF THE STUDY: Microsatellites were designed and characterized in the Sino-Himalayan fern Lepisorus clathratus complex (Polypodiaceae) to further study the phylogeography and reproductive ecology of this species.

METHODS AND RESULTS: From a genomic library obtained by next-generation sequencing, 10 polymorphic and six monomorphic microsatellite loci were developed. In one population of L. clathratus from Taibaishan in central China, the number of alleles observed for these microsatellites ranged from seven to 29, and observed and expected heterozygosity ranged from 0.463 to 0.919 and from 0.797 to 0.947, respectively. Cross-amplification in other taxa within this complex was successful, but cross-amplification was poor for other congeneric species.

CONCLUSIONS: This set of newly developed microsatellite markers will be useful for assessing genetic diversity, population structure, and mating system, and to infer polyploid origin in the L. clathratus complex.