Novel polymorphic microsatellite markers for the helophytic plant species Hanguana malayana (Jack) Merr. (Commelinales: Hanguanaceae)

Abstract

Hanguana malayana (Jack) Merr. is a large to massive colonial dioecious helophyte producing extensive spongy stolons and reproduce both sexually and asexually. It is a plant of open lowlands along muddy banks of large rivers, and the margins of freshwater bodies, and freshwater swamp forest. It ranges from Sri Lanka to western Micronesia (Caroline Islands: Palau), south as far as northern Australia and north to the Philippines (Luzon), and peninsular Thailand below the Isthmus of Kra (Siti Nurfazilah et al. 2010). Throughout its range, H. malayana is morphologically stable, leading to the speculation that the majority of populations may be clonal, reproducing primarily by asexual processes. Clonal plant populations are made up of a few genets and numerous genetically similar ramets (Li et al. 2006). A genet is composed of all tissues originating from single sexually produced zygote, whereas a ramet is an independent part of a genet arisen through clonal replication (Harper 1977). To understand the diversity of population structures and the dynamics of clonal plants, such as H. malayana which reproduce by both asexual and sexual reproduction, genetic studies are required. The goal of this study was to identify and characterize microsatellite containing sequences for H. malayana. These data will be invaluable for a broad range of applications in genetic research of H. malayana, including population structure, and spatial distribution of genets and ramets. Microsatellite markers are highly polymorphic, with high variability of repeating units (Pung et al. 2000; Mizuki et al. 2005) and further, are easily and economically assayed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) (McCouch et al. 1997; Temnykh et al. 2000). Use of microsatellite markers enable detection of high levels of allelic diversity, and are therefore ideal for ecological and population studies.