title: Isolation, via 454 sequencing, and characterization of microsatellites for Vachellia farnesiana (Fabaceae: Mimosoideae).
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We isolated 15 polymorphic microsatellite markers from Vachellia farnesiana for use in population genetic studies to determine the native range of the species. •
  
  
  RESULTS
  Initially, 454 shotgun sequencing was used to identify and design primers for 68 microsatellite loci. Of these, we trialed 47 loci in the target species, and 42 (89%) amplified a product of expected size. Fifteen of the 47 loci were screened for variation in 21 individuals from the native range of V. farnesiana in southern Mexico and 20 from northwestern Australia. Fourteen loci were polymorphic, with observed heterozygosity ranging from 0.026 to 1.00 (mean = 0.515) and two to 12 alleles per locus (average = 5.2). Cross-amplification was successful in four to 11 loci in three other Vachellia species. •
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The new microsatellite loci will be useful in understanding genetic variation and investigating the role of human-mediated dispersal in the current distribution of V. farnesiana.
authors.affiliation: Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne, Birdwood Avenue, South Yarra, Victoria 3141, Australia ; School of Geography and Environmental Sciences, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria 3800, Australia.
authors.forename: Karen L
authors.initials: KL
authors.lastname: Bell
authors.affiliation: Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne, Birdwood Avenue, South Yarra, Victoria 3141, Australia.
authors.forename: Daniel J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Murphy
authors.affiliation: School of Biological Sciences, Flinders University, GPO Box 2100, Adelaide, 5001 South Australia, Australia ; Australian Centre for Evolutionary Biology and Biodiversity, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, 5005 South Australia, Australia ; Evolutionary Biology Unit, South Australian Museum, North Terrace Adelaide, 5000 South Australia, Australia.
authors.forename: Michael G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Gardner
keywords: 454 GS-FLX; Acacia farnesiana; Vachellia farnesiana; cross-species transferability; microsatellites; shotgun sequencing