Premise of the study: To examine patterns of genetic diversity and test possible hybridization events, microsatellite markers were identified and characterized in Hoya ledongensis (Apocynaceae), and cross-amplification was tested in a congener, H. jianfenglingensis.
Methods and results: Based on the transcriptome data of H. ledongensis, 46 microsatellite primer pairs were randomly selected for initial validation. From these, 28 primer pairs were successfully amplified, 12 of which were polymorphic in 36 individuals across three populations of H. ledongensis. The number of alleles per microsatellite locus ranged from two to 11. The observed and expected heterozygosities for the 12 loci ranged from 0.133 to 0.867 and 0.128 to 0.894, respectively. Cross-species amplification was successful for these 12 loci in the congeneric species H. jianfenglingensis.
Conclusions: These polymorphic transcriptome-derived simple sequence repeat markers have the potential to be used as multilocus molecular markers to study the population genetics and natural hybridization in species of Hoya.
Keywords: Apocynaceae; Hoya ledongensis; conservation; genetic diversity; transcriptome-derived SSR markers.