title: Microsatellite primers for vulnerable and thriving Acacia (Fabaceae) species from Australia's arid zone.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Microsatellite markers were developed for the common arid Australian shrub Acacia ligulata (Fabaceae) and the threatened overstory trees A. melvillei and A. pendula.
  
  
  RESULTS
  DNA sequence data generated by 454 sequencing were used to identify microsatellite nucleotide repeat motifs. Including previously developed primer sets, we report on the development of 10 polymorphic microsatellite loci for each species. Six of these were novel for A. melvillei and A. ligulata, and five were novel for A. pendula, while five more each were transferred from primers developed for related species (A. carneorum and A. loderi). We found three to 17 alleles per locus for each species, with high multilocus genotypic diversity within each of two A. ligulata and A. pendula stands, and one A. melvillei population. A second A. melvillei stand appeared to be monoclonal.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These markers will allow assessment of population genetics, mating systems, and connectedness of populations of these and possibly other arid-zone acacias.
authors.affiliation: Institute for Conservation Biology and Environmental Management, School of Biological Sciences, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, New South Wales 2522, Australia.
authors.forename: Cairo N
authors.initials: CN
authors.lastname: Forrest
authors.affiliation: Institute for Conservation Biology and Environmental Management, School of Biological Sciences, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, New South Wales 2522, Australia.
authors.forename: David G
authors.initials: DG
authors.lastname: Roberts
authors.affiliation: Institute for Conservation Biology and Environmental Management, School of Biological Sciences, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, New South Wales 2522, Australia ; New South Wales Office of Environment and Heritage, P.O. Box 1967, Hurstville, New South Wales 2220, Australia.
authors.forename: Andrew J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Denham
authors.affiliation: Institute for Conservation Biology and Environmental Management, School of Biological Sciences, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, New South Wales 2522, Australia.
authors.forename: David J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Ayre
keywords: Acacia; Fabaceae; genetic diversity; perennial plant; recruitment failure; sexual and asexual reproduction