Broussonetia × hanjiana (Moraceae) microsatellite markers for species and ploidy determination developed using next-generation sequencing.

BACKGROUND: Broussonetia × hanjiana has been considered a hybrid owing to its morphology, which is intermediate between that of B. papyrifera (L.) L'Her. ex Vent. and B. kazinoki Siebold. A recent study demonstrated the hybrid origin of B. × hanjiana in Korea using molecular markers. In this study, we developed microsatellite markers for B. × hanjiana using next-generation sequencing and cross-species transferability analysis. METHODS AND RESULTS: A total of 432 primers were designed from 205,819 contigs. Among them, 24 microsatellite markers showing polymorphisms were used to evaluate the population genetic characteristics. The observed heterozygosity (HO) and expected heterozygosity (HE) were 0.835 and 0.628, respectively. The cross-species transferability of these markers was evaluated in two closely related species of Broussonetia; all 24 markers showed cross-species amplification. Using flow cytometry, diploid and triploid individuals were identified in B. × hanjiana. In particular, the BR137 marker showed evidence of two parent species (B. papyripera and B. kazinoki), with a hybrid pattern observed in B. × hanjiana, demonstrating its utility for species identification and ploidy assessment. CONCLUSIONS: The new B. × hanjiana microsatellite markers can be useful in genetic studies of closely related B. papyripera, B. kazinoki, and B. × hanjiana.

The species range-size patterns for vascular plants of Seorak Mountain (Korea): Relationship between group of life forms and phytogeography affinity along the elevational gradient.

Research on species richness patterns and the advanced elevational Rapoport rule (ERR) has been widespread in recent years; however, there is a lack of such research for the temperate mountainous regions in northeast Asia. Here, we collected plant species from the Seorak Mountain in northeast Asia through field surveys. The species were divided into 11 groups according to the life-form types and phytogeography affinities of each species. The ERR was evaluated using Steven's method and by examining the species richness patterns of each group. The species richness patterns revealed a positive multimodal pattern along the elevation gradient, but phytogeography affinities (increasing trend) and life-form analysis (unimodal) exhibited different patterns. The elevation gradients (1,350 m for the mean elevation-range relationships), which are affected by the boundary effect and different life forms, did not consistently support the ERR. However, herbs as well as rare, endemic, and red list species showed consistent support for the ERR, which could be attributed to the influence by phytogeography affinities. Therefore, the results from Seorak Mountain showed that the ERR was not consistent for different plant life forms in the same area; however, phytogeography affinities could support and explain ERR.