title: First microsatellite markers for Paspalum plicatulum (Poaceae) characterization and cross-amplification in different Paspalum species of the Plicatula group.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Paspalum plicatulum is a perennial rhizomatous grass with natural diploid and polyploid cytotypes. It is a member of Plicatula, which has historically been recognized as a highly complex group containing species of ecological, ornamental and forage importance. The complex nature of the P. plicatulum genome makes it a challenging species for genetic research. This study aimed to develop and characterize microsatellite molecular markers in P. plicatulum and to evaluate their transferability to other Plicatula group species.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Microsatellite sequences were identified from three enriched libraries from P. plicatulum. Specific primers were designed, and 25 displayed polymorphism when screened across 48 polyploid Paspalum spp. genotypes. The number of bands per locus ranged from 2 to 17, with a mean of 8.65. Private bands for each species were identified; the highest number of private bands was observed for P. plicatulum in 52% of the loci analyzed. The mean polymorphism information content of all loci was 0.69, and the mean discriminatory power was 0.82. Microsatellite markers were satisfactorily cross-amplified for the eight tested Plicatula-group Paspalum species, with P. atratum exhibiting the highest transferability rate (89.86%). STRUCTURE and Discriminant Analysis of Principal Components separated accessions into three groups but did not reveal separation of the accessions according to species.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study describes the first microsatellite markers in P. plicatulum, which are polymorphic, efficient for the detection and quantification of genetic variation, and show high transferability into other species of the Plicatula group. This set of markers can be used in future genetic and molecular studies necessary for the proper development of conservation and breeding programs. Private bands within the markers can be used to assist in species identification.
authors.affiliation: Center for Molecular Biology and Genetic Engineering (CBMEG), University of Campinas (UNICAMP), Cidade Universitária Zeferino Vaz, CP 6010, Campinas, SP, CEP 13083-970, Brazil.
authors.forename: Fernanda A
authors.initials: FA
authors.lastname: Oliveira
authors.affiliation: Center for Molecular Biology and Genetic Engineering (CBMEG), University of Campinas (UNICAMP), Cidade Universitária Zeferino Vaz, CP 6010, Campinas, SP, CEP 13083-970, Brazil.
authors.forename: Fernanda W
authors.initials: FW
authors.lastname: Cidade
authors.affiliation: EMBRAPA Southeast Livestock, Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation, CP 339, São Carlos, SP, CEP 13560-970, Brazil.
authors.forename: Alessandra P
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Fávero
authors.affiliation: EMBRAPA Southeast Livestock, Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation, CP 339, São Carlos, SP, CEP 13560-970, Brazil.
authors.forename: Bianca B Z
authors.initials: BB
authors.lastname: Vigna
authors.affiliation: Center for Molecular Biology and Genetic Engineering (CBMEG), University of Campinas (UNICAMP), Cidade Universitária Zeferino Vaz, CP 6010, Campinas, SP, CEP 13083-970, Brazil. anete@unicamp.br.|Plant Biology Department, Biology Institute, University of Campinas (UNICAMP), Cidade Universitária Zeferino Vaz, CP 6109, Campinas, SP, CEP 13083-970, Brazil. anete@unicamp.br.
authors.forename: Anete P
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Souza
mesh_terms: D000465:Algorithms; D001499:Bayes Theorem; D016000:Cluster Analysis; D017931:DNA Primers / Q000235:genetics; D018744:DNA, Plant / Q000235:genetics; D014644:Genetic Variation; D005838:Genotype; D018895:Microsatellite Repeats / Q000235:genetics*; D015233:Models, Statistical; D031781:Paspalum / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D011123:Polyploidy; D025341:Principal Component Analysis; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D013045:Species Specificity
chemical_list: D017931:DNA Primers; D018744:DNA, Plant
keywords: Forage; Germplasm evaluation; Grass; Microsatellite; Paspalum botanical group; SSR transferability