Isolation and characterization of microsatellite loci in the tropical forage legume Stylosanthes guianensis (Aubl.) Sw.

Abstract

Stylosanthes guianensis is an important tropical pasture legume. Knowledge of genetic diversity and structure of S. guianensis populations is of great importance for the conservation and germplasm management of this species. Thus, 20 microsatellite markers were developed from a S. guianensis enriched library. The microsatellites were characterized in 20 accessions from the germplasm collection of the Empresa Brasileira de Pesquisa Agropecuária (Embrapa). The average number of alleles per locus varied from 2 to 7, with an average of 4 alleles per locus. The observed and expected heterozygosities ranged from 0 to 0.60 and 0.10 to 0.85, respectively. This new set of microsatellites will contribute towards studies of genetic diversity and conservation of S. guianensis. © Springer Science+Business Media B.V. 2009.