Development of multiplex microsatellite PCR panels for the seagrass Thalassia hemprichii (Hydrocharitaceae)

Abstract

• Premise of the study: New microsatellites were developed for the seagrass Thalassia hemprichii (Hydrocharitaceae), a long‐lived seagrass species that is found throughout the shallow waters of tropical and subtropical Indo‐West Pacific. Three multiplex PCR panels were designed utilizing new and previously developed markers, resulting in a toolkit for generating a 16‐locus genotype. • Methods and Results: Through the use of microsatellite enrichment and next‐generation sequencing, 16 new, validated, polymorphic microsatellite markers were isolated. Diversity was between two and four alleles per locus totaling 36 alleles. These markers, plus previously developed microsatellite markers for T. hemprichii and T. testudinum , were tested for suitability in multiplex PCR panels. • Conclusions: The generation of an easily replicated suite of multiplex panels of codominant molecular markers will allow for high‐resolution and detailed genetic structure analysis and clonality assessment with minimal genotyping costs. We suggest the establishment of a T. hemprichii primer convention for the unification of future data sets.