ARS | Publication request: ISOLATION AND CHARACTERIZATION OF MICROSATELLITE LOCI IN LESQUERELLA FENDLERI (BRASSICACEAE) AND CROSS-SPECIES AMPLIFICATION

Submitted to: Molecular Ecology Notes
Publication Type: Research Notes
Publication Acceptance Date: November 14, 2005
Publication Date: June 14, 2006
Citation: Salywon, A.M., Dierig, D.A. 2006. Isolation and characterization of microsatellite loci in lesquerella fendleri (brassicaceae) and cross-species amplification. Molecular Ecology Notes. 6:382-384.

Interpretive Summary: Previously no DNA markers existed for Lesquerella fendleri, a potential crop under development as a new industrial oilseed crop rich in hydroxy fatty acids. Therefore, we developed a set of 15 DNA markers, called microsatellite markers, for this species, that are now available to all plant researchers through a website called GenBank. The microsatellite markers can be used as a "DNA fingerprint" for either individual lesquerella plants or populations of plants. These molecular markers will be used by breeding programs in order to study genetic diversity within and among breeding lines. Furthermore, many of these microsatellite markers can be used to investigate related species of Lesquerella, several of which are listed as federally endangered species. The development of these mircrosatellite markers should help speed our efforts to bring this crop to market.

Technical Abstract: Fifteen novel microsatellite primer pairs are presented for Lesquerella fendleri, which were developed from seven dinucleotide, five trinucleotide and three tetranucleotide microsatellite DNA loci. These loci were characterized for 40 individuals from 24 populations throughout the species range. The number of alleles observed per locus ranged from 3 to 16 and the polymorphic information content ranged from 0.212 to 0.889. Cross-species tranferability tested on nine species of Lesquerella and one species of the related genus Physaria indicate that these primer paris may be useful for population genetic studies of other species in Lesquerella and possibly other closely related genera.