title: Development and characterization of microsatellite markers for Central American Begonia sect. Gireoudia (Begoniaceae).
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Transcriptome sequence data were used to design microsatellite primers for two widespread Central American Begonia species, B. heracleifolia and B. nelumbiifolia, to investigate population structure and hybridization. •
  
  
  RESULTS
  The transcriptome from vegetative meristem tissue from the related B. plebeja was mined for microsatellite loci, and 31 primer pairs amplified in the target species. Fifteen primer pairs were combined in two multiplex PCR reactions, which amplified an average of four alleles per locus. •
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The markers developed will be a valuable genetic resource for medium-throughput genotyping of Central American species of Begonia sect. Gireoudia. A subset of these markers have perfect sequence matches to Asian B. venusta, and are promising for studies in other Begonia sections.
authors.affiliation: Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh, 20A Inverleith Row, Edinburgh EH3 5LR, United Kingdom ; Institute of Molecular Plant Sciences, School of Biological Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH9 3JH, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Alex D
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Twyford
authors.affiliation: Institute of Evolutionary Biology, School of Biological Sciences, Ashworth Laboratories, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH9 3JT, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Richard A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Ennos
authors.affiliation: Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh, 20A Inverleith Row, Edinburgh EH3 5LR, United Kingdom ; Institute of Molecular Plant Sciences, School of Biological Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH9 3JH, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Catherine A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Kidner
keywords: Begonia heracleifolia; Begonia nelumbiifolia; Begoniaceae; hybridization; microsatellite primers; transcriptome sequences