Development of nuclear microsatellite markers for the threatened wetland plant Geranium soboliferum var. kiusianum ( Geraniaceae).

Nuclear microsatellite markers were developed for the threatened plant Geranium soboliferum var. kiusianum, which has decreased its population size as a result of loss of its wetland habitat in Kyushu, Japan. Utilizing RNA-seq data obtained by next-generation sequencing techniques, 10 polymorphic microsatellite markers with 3-16 alleles in a nuclear genome were developed and characterized. Two to 15 alleles were observed in G. soboliferum. These markers will be used to investigate the genetic circumstance of remnant populations of G. soboliferum var. kiusianum and their phylogenetic relationship with G. soboliferum. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]