MICROSATELLITE PRIMERS IN THE NATIVE PERENNIAL CYCAD CYCAS TAITUNGENSIS (CYCADACEAE)

Premise of the study: Microsatellite primers were developed for the native perennial cycad Cycas taitungensis to evaluate the genetic variation of this endangered insular species. Methods and Results: Using a magnetic bead enrichment method and EST data, 16 primer sets were developed and identified for the native Taiwan cycad C. taitungensis. The primers amplified dinucleotide, trinucleotide, and complex repeats with 1-9 alleles per locus. Most primers also amplified DNA from C. revoluta and C. debaoensis. Conclusions: These results indicate the utility of primers for future studies of the genetic structure of C. taitungensis. In addition, the primers are useful for further phylogeographic studies between C. taitungensis and C. revoluta, which is a closely related species.