Abstract
Polymorphic microsatellite markers were developed for the Ibero-North African, strict gypsophyte Lepidium subulatum to unravel the effects of habitat fragmentation in levels of genetic diversity, genetic structure and gene flow among its populations. Using 454 pyrosequencing 12 microsatellite loci including di- and tri-nucleotide repeats were characterized in L. subulatum. They amplified a total of 80 alleles (2–12 alleles per locus) in a sample of 35 individuals of L. subulatum, showing relatively high levels of genetic diversity, HO = 0.645, HE = 0.627. Cross-species transferability of all 12 loci was successful for the Iberian endemics Lepidium cardamines, Lepidium stylatum, and the widespread, Lepidium graminifolium and one species each of two related genera, Cardaria draba and Coronopus didymus. These microsatellite primers will be useful to investigate genetic diversity, population structure and to address conservation genetics in species of Lepidium.
Highlights
Lepidium L. (Brassicaceae) is a cosmopolitan genus that includes about 175 species of annual to short-lived perennial herbs that inhabit predominantly ruderal habitats, shrublands and rock crevices on cliffs, primarily in temperate and subtropical regions [1]
Our primary goal is to investigate the effects of habitat fragmentation on the population genetics of selected species from Iberian gypsum outcrops
Twelve loci with the best primer scores were selected from a shotgun 454-sequenced genomic library to investigate levels of genetic diversity at microsatellite loci in L. subulatum (Table 1)
Summary
Lepidium L. (Brassicaceae) is a cosmopolitan genus that includes about 175 species of annual to short-lived perennial herbs that inhabit predominantly ruderal habitats, shrublands and rock crevices on cliffs, primarily in temperate and subtropical regions [1]. They include a highly diverse and specialized flora including a large number of narrow endemics Such habitats have been subjected to diverse human-induced degradation because of their exploitation for gypsum extraction, and the establishment of landfills because of their comparatively lower agricultural productivity. Our primary goal is to investigate the effects of habitat fragmentation on the population genetics of selected species from Iberian gypsum outcrops. Given their fragmented distribution and the diverse degree of geographical connectivity and geographical extension, such areas can be considered as true ecological islands [4]. This study will further provide a valuable molecular tool for addressing strategies for the conservation of the biodiversity of gypsum habitats and for promoting population restoration of altered areas with suitable genotypes
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