title: Development and characterization of microsatellite loci for two Caribbean Heliconia (Heliconiaceae: H. bihai and H. caribaea).
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Microsatellite loci were developed to characterize genetic variation and population subdivision in Heliconia bihai and H. caribaea from the Caribbean Islands.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 13 new microsatellite markers were developed and characterized in the two Caribbean heliconias. Di-, tri-, and tetranucleotide repeats were identified with one to 17 alleles per locus, and the observed heterozygosity ranged from 0.13 to 0.87. Additionally, cross-species amplification was successful in eight out of 13 loci.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The microsatellite loci developed have discriminatory potential to be used in genetic characterizations of Caribbean Heliconia. Both H. bihai and H. caribaea are known to have adaptive interactions with their hummingbird pollinators, and the characterized microsatellite markers will be used to study mating system, genetic structure, and phylogeographic patterns in Caribbean Heliconia.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological Sciences, The George Washington University, 2023 G Street, NW, Washington D.C. 20052, USA. vinitagowda@gmail.com
authors.forename: Vinita
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Gowda
authors.forename: David L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Erickson
authors.forename: W John
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Kress
mesh_terms: D000483:Alleles; D000818:Animals; D017691:Caribbean Region; D017931:DNA Primers; D018744:DNA, Plant / Q000235:genetics; D005787:Gene Frequency; D056426:Genetic Loci; D014644:Genetic Variation; D015698:Genomic Library; D032427:Heliconiaceae / Q000235:genetics*; D006579:Heterozygote; D018895:Microsatellite Repeats; D058974:Phylogeography; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction
chemical_list: D017931:DNA Primers; D018744:DNA, Plant