Development of microsatellite markers in the hexaploid aquatic macrophyte, Myriophyllum spicatum (Haloragaceae)

The results indicate that these markers will be significant for studies of population genetic structure and evolutionary history of M. spicatum as well as some of its related species.

Twenty microsatellite loci were identified in M. spicatum using the microsatellite-enriched library method. The numbers of alleles per locus ranged from one to 13, and the expected heterozygosity varied from 0 to 0.873 with a mean of 0.504 in two Chinese populations of M. spicatum. All of the loci were also found to be amplifiable in the related species M. verticillatum and M. sibiricum. • Conclusions: The results indicate that these markers will be significant for studies of population genetic structure and evolutionary history of M. spicatum as well as some of its related species.