Transcriptome-Derived Microsatellite Markers for Dioon (Zamiaceae) Cycad Species

• Published in: Applications in plant sciences 2016-02, Vol.4 (2), p.n/a
• Main Authors: Prado, Alberto, Cervantes-Díaz, Fret, Perez-Zavala, Francisco G, González-Astorga, Jorge, Bede, Jacqueline C, Cibrián-Jaramillo, Angélica
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Alleles; Conservation; cycads; Deoxyribonucleic acid; Dioon edule; DNA; Endangered & extinct species; Gene expression; Genetic diversity; Genetic markers; Genotypes; Heterozygosity; loci; microsatellite repeats; Microsatellites; ornamental value; Phylogenetics; Plant sciences; Population genetics; Population studies; PRIMER NOTES; Primers; trade; transcriptome; Zamiaceae
• ISSN: 2168-0450; 2168-0450
• DOI: 10.3732/apps.1500087

Premise of the study: Dioon (Zamiaceae) is an endangered North American cycad genus of evolutionary and ornamental value. We designed and validated a set of microsatellite markers from D. edule that can be used for population-level and conservation studies, and that transferred successfully to D. angustifolium. D. spinulosum, and D. holmgrenii. Methods and Results: We tested 50 primers from 80 microsatellite candidate loci in the One KP D. edule transcriptome. Genotypes from 21 loci in 20 D. edule individuals revealed up to 14 alleles per locus and observed heterozygosity from 0.15 to 0.92; one locus was monomorphic. Seven of those 21 loci were polymorphic in D. angustifolium, D. spinulosum, and D. holmgrenii, with up to seven alleles, and an observed heterozygosity up to 0.89. Conclusions: The transcriptome-derived microsatellites generated here will serve as tools to advance population genetic studies and inform conservation strategies of Dioon, including the identification and origin of illegal plants in the cycad trade.