MICROSATELLITE MARKERS FOR THE CUSHION ROCK JASMINE, ANDROSACE TAPETE (PRIMULACEAE), A SPECIES ENDEMIC TO THE QINGHAI-TIBETAN PLATEAU

Premise of the study : Microsatellite markers were developed in an alpine plant endemic to the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau, Androsace tapete, to investigate its spatial genetic structure, gene flow, and mating patterns. Methods and Results : Using the combined biotin capture method, 16 microsatellite primer sets were isolated and characterized. Fifteen of these markers showed polymorphism, and the number of alleles per locus ranged from three to 13 across 56 individuals from six Tibetan populations. Conclusions : These markers provide a useful tool to investigate the spatial genetic structure, gene flow, and mating system of A. tapete.