title: Development of microsatellite markers for Fargesia denudata (Poaceae), the staple-food bamboo of the giant panda.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  There is a need for microsatellite primers to analyze genetic parameters of Fargesia denudata (Poaceae), the staple-food bamboo of the giant panda (Ailuropoda melanoleuca).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Using next-generation sequencing technology, we obtained a 75-Mb assembled sequence of F. denudata and identified 182 microsatellites. Primer pairs for 70 candidate microsatellite markers were selected and validated in four individuals, and 42 primer pairs generated reliable amplicons. Fourteen of 16 tested markers were found to be polymorphic in 72 individuals from four F. denudata populations. The number of alleles ranged from two to 19 per locus; the observed and expected heterozygosities ranged from 0 to 1 and from 0 to 0.87, respectively. The transferability of these 16 novel microsatellite markers was validated in five related species.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These markers will be useful for examining the genetic diversity, genetic structure, and cloning of F. denudata, the staple-food bamboo of the giant panda, and related bamboo species.
authors.affiliation: College of Forestry, Key Laboratory for Forest Resources and Ecosystem Processes of Beijing, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing 100083, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Yan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Lv
authors.affiliation: College of Forestry, Key Laboratory for Forest Resources and Ecosystem Processes of Beijing, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing 100083, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Tao
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.affiliation: College of Life Science, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, Gansu, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Sihai
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lu
authors.affiliation: College of Forestry, Key Laboratory for Forest Resources and Ecosystem Processes of Beijing, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing 100083, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Cheng
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Tian
authors.affiliation: College of Forestry, Key Laboratory for Forest Resources and Ecosystem Processes of Beijing, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing 100083, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Junqing
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: College of Forestry, Key Laboratory for Forest Resources and Ecosystem Processes of Beijing, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing 100083, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Fang K
authors.initials: FK
authors.lastname: Du
keywords: Fargesia denudata; Poaceae; giant panda; microsatellites; next-generation sequencing