DEVELOPMENT AND CHARACTERIZATION OF MICROSATELLITE LOCI IN TAIHANGIA RUPESTRIS (ROSACEAE), A RARE CLIFF HERB

Premise of the study : Microsatellite primers were developed for the rare Taihangia rupestris (Rosaceae) to evaluate genetic diversity, population genetic structure, mating system, and demographic events of this species. Methods and Results: Ten primer sets were developed using an enriched genomic library and were successfully amplified in T. rupestris var. ciliata and T. rupestris var. rupestris. The number of alleles per locus ranged from 2 to 21; the observed and expected heterozygosities ranged from 0.300 to 0.950 and from 0.328 to 0.956, respectively, in the two varieties. Conclusions: The markers described here will be useful for studies of genetic variation, genetic structure, and mating systems of T. rupestris, which are important for the future conservation of this rare species.