Ten nuclear microsatellites markers cross-amplifying in Scaevola montana and S. coccinea (Goodeniaceae), a locally common and a narrow endemic plant species of ultramafic scrublands in New Caledonia

Abstract

We developed ten microsatellites markers to study the population genetic structure of two ultramafic scrublands species in New Caledonia, Scaevola montana a common species used in ecological restoration of mining sites, and S. coccinea a narrow endemic species of the Tontouta valley. The markers were isolated from S. montana. Nine loci are polymorphic in S. montana; eight were polymorphic in S. coccinea. The narrow endemic species showed lower variation at these loci than S. montana. There is a significant heterozygosity deficit in S. montana at four loci, and a global significant inbreeding coefficient across all loci (F IS = 0.159). In contrast, the tested populations of S. coccinea did not show significant deviations from Hardy–Weinberg expectations. These markers are now being used in conservation genetic studies aiming to understand the biology of these species and to provide information to guide restoration programmes.