title: Development and characterization of chloroplast microsatellite markers in a fine-leaved fescue, Festuca rubra (Poaceae).
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Chloroplast microsatellite markers were developed for Festuca rubra to examine its population genetic characteristics, taxonomy, and coevolution with its endophyte Epichloë festucae. •
  
  
  RESULTS
  Thirteen polymorphic markers were identified from the chloroplast genome of a F. ovina accession and intergenic chloroplast sequences of F. rubra accessions. They amplified a total of 65 alleles in a sample of 93 individuals of F. rubra originating from six different populations located in the Faroe Islands, Finland, Greenland, Norway, and Spain. •
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The developed microsatellite primer pairs can be used by researchers in population genetic and taxonomic studies, and by plant breeders in breeding programs on grasses.
authors.affiliation: MTT Agrifood Research Finland, Plant Production Research, 31600 Jokioinen, Finland.
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: von Cräutlein
authors.affiliation: Department of Agricultural Sciences, University of Helsinki, FI-00014 University of Helsinki, Finland.
authors.forename: Helena
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Korpelainen
authors.affiliation: MTT Agrifood Research Finland, Plant Production Research, 31600 Jokioinen, Finland ; Department of Biology, University of Turku, 20014 Turku, Finland.
authors.forename: Marjo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Helander
authors.affiliation: Botany Unit, Finnish Museum of Natural History, FI-00014 University of Helsinki, Finland.
authors.forename: Henry
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Väre
authors.affiliation: MTT Agrifood Research Finland, Plant Production Research, 31600 Jokioinen, Finland.
authors.forename: Kari
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Saikkonen
keywords: Epichloë festucae; Festuca rubra; Poaceae; agriculture; breeding; pasture grass; population genetics; taxonomy