title: Development and characterization of microsatellite loci for the pseudometallophyte Commelina communis (Commelinaceae).
abstract: •
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  Microsatellite primers were developed for the pseudometallophyte Commelina communis (Commelinaceae), an important pioneer plant for phytoremediation of copper-contaminated soil. Two wild populations collected from metalliferous and nonmetalliferous sites were used to assess the polymorphism at each locus. •
  
  
  RESULTS
  Based on the Fast Isolation by AFLP of Sequences COntaining repeats (FIASCO) method, a total of 34 pairs of simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers were designed. When 40 specimens from two populations were screened, 12 microsatellite loci were found to be highly polymorphic. The number of alleles per locus ranged from one to 11 and the observed and expected heterozygosity per locus ranged from 0.000 to 1.000 and from 0.195 to 0.941, respectively. •
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These markers will be useful for examining genetic diversity, population structure, and gene flow in populations of C. communis under different edaphic conditions and guiding sustainable management plans for phytoremediation.
authors.affiliation: School of Minerals Processing and Bioengineering, Central South University, Changsha 410083, People's Republic of China ; School of Metallurgy and Environment, Central South University, Changsha 410083, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Jiao-Kun
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: School of Life Sciences, Central South University, Changsha 410013, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Yun-Peng
authors.initials: YP
authors.lastname: Song
authors.affiliation: School of Minerals Processing and Bioengineering, Central South University, Changsha 410083, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Hui
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.affiliation: School of Minerals Processing and Bioengineering, Central South University, Changsha 410083, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Jian-Yu
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.affiliation: School of Life Sciences, Central South University, Changsha 410013, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Lu-Lu
authors.initials: LL
authors.lastname: Tang
keywords: Commelina communis; Commelinaceae; genetic diversity; microsatellites; pseudometallophyte