Characterisation of SSR markers for New Zealand Craspedia and their application in Kahurangi National Park

Abstract

Twelve polymorphic simple sequence repeat markers were developed from transcribed sequences generated by RNA-seq. These were then used to assess relationships among selected putative species of Craspedia in Kahurangi National Park, New Zealand, including three putative species in sympatry at Mt Arthur; plants from two putative species from the nearby Mt Mytton; and plants from the Marino Mountains, where at least four putative species have been listed. We confirmed that two of the putative species present on Mt Arthur are also present on Mt Mytton, but identified another Craspedia there that was previously not recognised as being distinct. At the Marino Mountains the situation appears more complex. One putative species there is clearly distinct from all other plants sampled. However, the remainder of the Marino Mountains plants could not be assigned to genetic groups consistent with the putative species, nor could we clearly relate them to the putative species from Mt Arthur or Mt Mytton.