CHARACTERIZATION OF MICROSATELLITE LOCI IN YUCCA BREVIFOLIA (AGAVACEAE) AND CROSS-AMPLIFICATION IN RELATED SPECIES

Premise of the study: Microsatellite primers were characterized in Yucca brevifolia for use in population genetic studies and, particularly, analyses of gene flow between varieties. Methods and Results: We characterized 12 microsatellite loci polymorphic in Yucca brevifolia by screening primers that were developed using an SSR-enriched library or which were previously described in Yucca filamentosa. Genetic analysis of four populations resulted in the mean number of alleles per locus ranging from 10.25 to 14.58 and mean expected heterozygosity from 0.78 to 0.88. Cross-amplification of all 12 loci was attempted in six additional yucca species. Conclusions: These loci should prove useful for population genetic research in Yucca brevifolia, and cross-amplification of these loci in related species suggests that they may be useful in studies of hybridization and introgression between species.