title: Development and characterization of microsatellite markers in the African deciduous tree Terminalia superba (Combretaceae).
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Microsatellites were designed and characterized in the African timber forest tree Terminalia superba (Combretaceae). Due to their high variability, these markers are suitable to investigate gene flow patterns and the structure of genetic diversity.
  
  
  RESULTS
  From a genomic library obtained by next-generation sequencing, seven monomorphic and 14 polymorphic microsatellite loci were developed. The polymorphic microsatellites displayed two to 27 alleles (mean 11.4; expected heterozygosity range 0.283-0.940, mean 0.736) in one population from southeastern Cameroon. Genotypes were typical of an outbreeding diploid species, although null alleles explain a significant heterozygote deficit in three loci. Cross-amplification in three congeneric species (T. ivorensis, T. avicennioides, and T. mantaly) failed, suggesting that T. superba is rather divergent.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This set of newly developed microsatellite markers will be useful for assessing the genetic diversity, population structure, and demographic history of T. superba in tropical African forests.
authors.affiliation: Evolutionary Biology and Ecology Unit, CP 160/12, Faculté des Sciences, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Av. F. D. Roosevelt 50, B-1050 Brussels, Belgium.
authors.forename: Boris B
authors.initials: BB
authors.lastname: Demenou
authors.affiliation: Evolutionary Biology and Ecology Unit, CP 160/12, Faculté des Sciences, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Av. F. D. Roosevelt 50, B-1050 Brussels, Belgium.
authors.forename: Jérémy
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Migliore
authors.affiliation: Management of Forest Resources, Biosystem Engineering Department, Gembloux Agro-Bio Tech, Université de Liège, 2 Passage des Déportés, B-5030 Gembloux, Belgium.
authors.forename: Felicien
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Tosso
authors.affiliation: Evolutionary Biology and Ecology Unit, CP 160/12, Faculté des Sciences, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Av. F. D. Roosevelt 50, B-1050 Brussels, Belgium.
authors.forename: Esra
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Kaymak
authors.affiliation: Evolutionary Biology and Ecology Unit, CP 160/12, Faculté des Sciences, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Av. F. D. Roosevelt 50, B-1050 Brussels, Belgium.
authors.forename: Olivier J
authors.initials: OJ
authors.lastname: Hardy
keywords: Combretaceae; Terminalia superba; microsatellites; next-generation sequencing; rainforest history