title: Microsatellite loci for Paspalum atratum (Poaceae) and cross-amplification in other species.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Paspalum atratum is a perennial, cespitose, tropical grass native to Central and South America. This species belongs to a polyploid complex (Plicatula group) little known at the genetic level. The characterized microsatellite markers provide new informative tools for further studies of the hybridization, mating systems, and structure of the population. •
  
  
  RESULTS
  Using the microsatellite-enriched library method, we isolated and characterized 19 microsatellite markers from P. atratum. Eleven of them were polymorphic, showing a variable degree of variation, while eight were monomorphic in the samples analyzed. Additionally, the transferability of these microsatellite markers was tested in other species. •
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results suggest that the characterized markers have enough discriminatory potential to be used in genetic characterizations of Paspalum taxa, which are based on an understanding of their mating systems and genetic structure, as well as in understanding the evolutionary processes involved in the evolution of groups of Paspalum.
authors: Centro de Biologia Molecular e Engenharia Genética (CBMEG), Universidade Estadual de Campinas, CP 6010, Campinas, SP, Brazil, CEP 13083-970.
authors: F W
authors: FW
authors: Cidade
authors: T T
authors: TT
authors: de Souza-Chies
authors: F H D
authors: FH
authors: Souza
authors: L A R
authors: LA
authors: Batista
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Dall'agnol
authors: J F M
authors: JF
authors: Valls
authors: M I
authors: MI
authors: Zucchi
authors: A P
authors: AP
authors: Souza