Premise of the study: Microsatellite primers were designed for Calochortus gunnisonii (Liliaceae), a montane lily species of the central and southern Rocky Mountains, using next-generation DNA sequencing. The markers will be used to investigate population structure, genetic diversity, and demographic history.
Methods and results: Thirteen polymorphic microsatellite loci were isolated from C. gunnisonii using Illumina MiSeq next-generation DNA sequencing and bioinformatic screening. The mean number of alleles per locus ranged from 4.15 to 5.92 (avg. = 4.97). Observed and expected heterozygosity ranged from 0.077 to 0.871 and 0.213 to 0.782, respectively. The primers were also tested for cross-species amplification value with C. flexuosus, C. nuttallii, C. kennedyi var. kennedyi, and C. subalpinus.
Conclusions: These primers will be useful for genetic and evolutionary studies across C. gunnisonii's range within the southern and central Rocky Mountains. Furthermore, these markers have proven valuable for cross-species amplifications within Calochortus.
Keywords: Calochortus gunnisonii; Illumina; Liliaceae; MiSeq; microsatellites.