Development, characterization, and cross‐amplification of microsatellite markers for Psammosilene tunicoides (Caryophyllaceae)

PREMISE OF THE STUDY: Psammosilene tunicoides (Caryophyllaceae) is a narrowly distributed and endemic plant species in southwestern China. The overexploitation of natural P. tunicoides has led to the destruction of many populations. Population and genetic studies will provide crucial data for the protection and management of P. tunicoides. In this study, we develop simple sequence repeat markers of P. tunicoides to analyze population diversity. METHODS AND RESULTS: Microsatellite loci of P. tunicoides were isolated with FIASCO. Eleven polymorphic and 10 monomorphic primers were developed. The 11 polymorphic primers were tested in three P. tunicoides populations, yielding two to nine alleles per locus. Levels of observed heterozygosity varied from 0.000 to 1.000, and levels of expected heterozygosity ranged from 0.000 to 0.615. In addition, three of these loci were successfully amplified, and showed polymorphism, in three Silene species. CONCLUSIONS: These microsatellite markers can be valuable tools to investigate the genetic diversity and population structure of P. tunicoides.