title: Development and characterization of 23 microsatellite loci forRhododendron ovatum(Ericaceae).
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To estimate the genetic variation ofRhododendron ovatum(Ericaceae), a monoecious evergreen shrub, 23 microsatellite markers were identified from its nuclear genome.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We developed 16 polymorphic and seven monomorphic microsatellite primers using the biotin-streptavidin capture method. The 16 polymorphic loci were investigated further using 89 individuals sampled from three populations in China. The number of alleles per locus ranged from four to 30, indicating a high level of polymorphism. The observed heterozygosity varied from 0.1034 to 0.9333, while the expected heterozygosity ranged from 0.1016 to 0.9542. Of these polymorphic primers, 12 were found to be functional inR. simsii, a congeneric species ofR. ovatum.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Moderate to high levels of genetic variation were found in these microsatellite loci, indicating that they can be applied in future studies ofRhododendrongenetic structure, contributing to forest management and conservation.
authors.affiliation: School of Ecological and Environmental Sciences, Tiantong National Station of Forest Ecosystem, Shanghai Key Laboratory for Urban Ecology and Restoration, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200241, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: De-Chen
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: School of Ecological and Environmental Sciences, Tiantong National Station of Forest Ecosystem, Shanghai Key Laboratory for Urban Ecology and Restoration, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200241, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Yang
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: School of Ecological and Environmental Sciences, Tiantong National Station of Forest Ecosystem, Shanghai Key Laboratory for Urban Ecology and Restoration, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200241, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Si-Si
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: School of Ecological and Environmental Sciences, Tiantong National Station of Forest Ecosystem, Shanghai Key Laboratory for Urban Ecology and Restoration, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200241, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Meng-Yu
authors.initials: MY
authors.lastname: Liao
authors.affiliation: School of Ecological and Environmental Sciences, Tiantong National Station of Forest Ecosystem, Shanghai Key Laboratory for Urban Ecology and Restoration, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200241, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Xin-Yu
authors.initials: XY
authors.lastname: Fan
authors.affiliation: School of Ecological and Environmental Sciences, Tiantong National Station of Forest Ecosystem, Shanghai Key Laboratory for Urban Ecology and Restoration, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200241, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Yuan-Yuan
authors.initials: YY
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: School of Ecological and Environmental Sciences, Tiantong National Station of Forest Ecosystem, Shanghai Key Laboratory for Urban Ecology and Restoration, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200241, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Rong
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Wang
keywords: Ericaceae; Rhododendron ovatum; genetic variation; microsatellites; polymorphism