Development of EST-microsatellites from the cycad Cycas rumphii, and their use in the recently endangered Cycas micronesica

摘要

We developed a set of 12 EST-microsatellite markers (EST-STRs) from Cycas rumphii Miq. and tested them on an ex situ collection of the endangered Cycas micronesica K.D. Hill. The number of alleles per locus in both species ranged from 1 to 15. Observed and expected heterozygosities ranged from 0.000 to 0.842, and 0.000 to 0.883, respectively. All primers amplified in four additional Cycas species. These markers are the first genome-enabled tools for cycad population level studies, and are now available to inform conservation efforts and disentangle the biogeographic history of the genus.