title: Development of microsatellite markers forViscum coloratum(Santalaceae) and their application to wild populations.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Microsatellite primers were developed forViscum coloratum(Santalaceae), a semiparasitic medicinal plant that is known for its anticancer properties. Due to excessive human harvesting and loss of suitable habitat of its populations, it has become a potentially threatened species requiring immediate conservation efforts.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Based on transcriptome data forV. coloratum, 124 primer pairs were randomly selected for initial validation, of which 19 yielded polymorphic microsatellite loci, with two to six alleles per locus. The usefulness of these markers was assessed for 60 individuals representing three populations ofV. coloratum. Observed and expected heterozygosity values ranged from 0.033 to 0.833 and 0.032 to 0.672, respectively. Cross-species amplification for 19 loci in the related speciesV. albumwas conducted.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The 19 newly developed loci are expected to be useful for studying the population genetics and ecological conservation ofV. coloratum.
authors.affiliation: Department of Life Science, Hallym University, Chuncheon 24252, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Bo-Yun
authors.initials: BY
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Life Science, Hallym University, Chuncheon 24252, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Han-Sol
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Park
authors.affiliation: Biological and Genetic Resources Assessment Division, National Institute of Biological Resources, Incheon 22689, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Soonok
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Life Science, Hallym University, Chuncheon 24252, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Young-Dong
authors.initials: YD
authors.lastname: Kim
keywords: Santalaceae; Viscum coloratum; genetic diversity; medicinal plant; microsatellite; mistletoe