Find in Library

Premise of the study: Microsatellite loci were developed for <i>Pseudotaxus chienii</i>, an old rare species endemic to China, and which provided a useful tool for investigating the patterns of population genetic structure, phylogeography, evolutionary history, and adaptive potential. Transferability was assayed in the related species, <i>Taxus wallichiana</i> var. <i>mairei</i>. Methods and Results: A total of 15 microsatellite loci were targeted in <i>P. chienii</i> using the Fast Isolation by AFLP of Sequences Containing Repeats (FIASCO) protocol. Polymorphism was evaluated in five populations of <i>P. chienii</i> and five populations of <i>T. wallichiana</i> var. <i>mairei</i>. Of these loci, 13 were polymorphic in <i>P. chienii</i>, whereas 15 were polymorphic in <i>T. wallichiana</i> var. <i>mairei</i>. Conclusions: The 15 microsatellite loci developed lay a solid foundation for further studies on population genetic variability and investigations of local adaptation. Additionally, cross-species amplification in <i>T. wallichiana</i> var. <i>mairei</i> showed that these loci may also have potential utility in other genera of Taxaceae.