Development of 18 novel microsatellite primers for Begonia fimbristipula (Begoniaceae), an endangered medicinal plant in China(1)

PREMISE OF THE STUDY: Begonia fimbristipula (Begoniaceae) is a medicinal herb distributed in the Chinese provinces of Fujian, Guangdong, Guangxi, Hainan, Hunan, Jiangxi, and Zhejiang, and it is on the verge of extinction due to habitat destruction and deterioration of its ecosystem. Here we developed a set of highly polymorphic microsatellite markers for population genetic and conservation studies of this endangered medicinal plant. METHODS AND RESULTS: Using the Fast Isolation by AFLP of Sequences COntaining repeats (FIASCO) protocol, 18 polymorphic microsatellite markers were identified within 48 individuals from two geographic locations. The observed and expected heterozygosities ranged from 0.208 to 1.000 and from 0.291 to 0.812, respectively. These microsatellite markers were cross-amplified in five related Begonia species, and six loci were successfully amplified in all species. CONCLUSIONS: These 18 markers will be useful for better conservation and utilization of wild resources of B. fimbristipula and other Begonia species in the future.