Development of chloroplast microsatellite markers for the endangered Maianthemum bicolor (Asparagaceae s.l.).
OBJECTIVE
Ten polymorphic chloroplast microsatellite (cpSSR) markers were developed and characterized in an endemic and endangered herb, Maianthemum bicolor (Asparagaceae s.l.), for use in conservation genetics.


RESULTS
Primer sets flanking each of the 10 cpSSR loci in noncoding regions of the chloroplast genome of M. bicolor were designed. These cpSSR markers were tested on a total of 33 adult individuals from three natural populations in South Korea. The number of alleles per locus ranged from two to three. The unbiased haplotype diversity per locus ranged from 0.061 to 0.682. All markers were successfully transferred to the congeneric species M. japonicum, M. bifolium, and M. dilatatum with polymorphisms among the species.


CONCLUSIONS
The developed cpSSR markers will be useful in assessing the genetic diversity and population structure of M. bicolor and will help to infer its molecular identification, thereby providing a basis for conservation.
Department of Life Science, Gachon University, Seongnam, Gyeonggi 13120, Republic of Korea.
Hana
H
Park
Department of Life Science, Gachon University, Seongnam, Gyeonggi 13120, Republic of Korea.
Changkyun
C
Kim
Korea National Arboretum, Pocheon, Gyeonggi 11186, Republic of Korea.
You-Mi
YM
Lee
Department of Life Science, Gachon University, Seongnam, Gyeonggi 13120, Republic of Korea.
Joo-Hwan
JH
Kim
Asparagaceae s.l.; Maianthemum bicolor; conservation; endangered species; genetic diversity; microsatellite