Development of microsatellite primers of the largest seagrass, Enhalus acoroides (Hydrocharitaceae)

Abstract

• Premise of the study: Microsatellite primers were developed for the seagrass Enhalus acoroides to investigate genetic variation and identify clonal structure. • Methods and Results: Four polymorphic loci and 32 monomorphic loci were developed in E. acoroides. Two to four alleles per locus were observed at the polymorphic loci across 60 individuals of two E. acoroides populations. The observed and expected heterozygosities within populations ranged from 0.100 to 0.5667 and from 0.0977 to 0.5079, respectively. • Conclusions: Our study revealed very low polymorphism in E. acoroides, even at the polymorphic loci. Nevertheless, these primers are a useful tool to study genetic variation, clonal structure, and mating system. © 2012 Botanical Society of America.