Isolation of polymorphic microsatellite markers and tests of cross-amplification in four widespread European calcicole ferns.
OBJECTIVE
Studies on the biogeography and population genetics of the widespread European rock ferns Asplenium scolopendrium, A. trichomanessubsp. quadrivalens, Polystichum setiferum, and P. aculeatumwould potentially yield interesting new insights into the colonization capacities of ferns. Markers with sufficient resolution for detailed genetic studies are, however, not yet available.


RESULTS
Using genome screening with intersimple sequence repeat (ISSR) primers, a total of 16 different microsatellite markers were isolated and characterized for the four species. Some of these markers could be exchanged within each congeneric pair.


CONCLUSIONS
The developed primer sets will be very useful for analyses of the biogeography and population genetics of some widespread calcicole ferns. The observed cross-amplification rates suggest a high potential for application on additional species from the same genera.
Ecology and Biodiversity Group, Institute of Environmental Biology, Utrecht University, Padualaan 8, 3584 CH Utrecht, Netherlands. G.A.deGroot@uu.nl
G Arjen
GA
de Groot
Helena
H
Korpelainen
E R Jasper
ER
Wubs
Roy
R
Erkens
D000483:Alleles; D017931:DNA Primers; D018744:DNA, Plant; D005060:Europe; D029624:Ferns / Q000235:genetics*; D005784:Gene Amplification / Q000235:genetics*; D005828:Genetics, Population; D018895:Microsatellite Repeats; D058974:Phylogeography; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D013045:Species Specificity
D017931:DNA Primers; D018744:DNA, Plant