Microsatellites for the mangrove tree Avicennia germinans (Acanthaceae): Tools for hybridization and mating system studies.

ABSTRACT

PREMISE OF THE STUDY We developed a new set of microsatellite markers for the black mangrove Avicennia germinans, to provide new informative tools for further studies of the mating system, interspecific hybridization, and population genetics. • METHODS AND RESULTS: We used the microsatellite-enriched library approach to isolate and characterize 25 new primer pairs. Sixteen of them are polymorphic, showing a variable degree of variation in A. germinans, while nine were monomorphic in the samples examined. Eight exhibited private alleles in A. schaueriana. • CONCLUSIONS: These results indicate that these new microsatellite markers will be useful molecular tools for further studies of A. germinans and A. schaueriana population genetics, mating systems, and hybridization.