MICROSATELLITE PRIMERS IN RHAMNUS CATHARTICA (RHAMNACEAE) AND APPLICABILITY IN RELATED TAXA TO ASSESS HYBRIDIZATION EVENTS

Premise of the study: Microsatellite primers were developed in the introduced shrub Rhamnus cathartica L., to investigate potential hybridization events with related taxa as a stimulus of invasive spread. Methods and Results: Using a non-radioactive protocol, 15 primer sets were identified in North American and European populations of R. cathartica. The primers amplified di-, tri- and pentanucelotide repeats with 1-14 alleles per locus. Most primers also amplified in R. lanceolata, R. smithii, and/or Frangula alnus (previously R. frangula). Conclusions: These results indicate the utility of primers in R. cathartica for future genetic studies as well as their potential applicability in other related taxa.