Isolation and characterization of microsatellite loci in the Cape fynbos heath Erica coccinea (Ericaceae)

5 paginas, 2 tablas.Enriched genomic libraries were used to isolate and characterize dinucleotide microsatellite loci in Erica coccinea, a South African Cape fynbos heath species with distinct resprouter and seeder populations. Microsatellites were required to investigate the effect of the contrasting demographic pattern driven by these two post-fire responses in the population genetic structure of seeder and resprouter forms within this species. Eight microsatellite loci were characterised and amplified a total of 106 alleles in 2 samples each of 30 individuals from 1 resprouter and 1 seeder population. Mean allele numbers were 7.88 and 11.0 for the resprouter and seeder population, respectively. Both populations showed similar average observed and expected heterozygosity levels, H (O)(resprouter) = 0.683, H (O)(seeder) = 0.696; H (E)(resprouter) = 0.726, H (E)(seeder) = 0.756, and average positive inbreeding coefficients F (IS)(resprouter) = 0.058, F (IS)(seeder) = 0.080. This set of microsatellite loci will be used to conduct a population genetic survey of seeder and resprouter populations throughout the range of the species. Cross-species transferability was also assayed in four other South African and four European species of the genus Erica, supporting their potential use for population genetic analyses.We thank A. García and R.W. Marriner for helping with field sampling. SANPARKS and Cape Nature authorities provided permits for collecting plant material. FO is deeply indebted to Ferozah Conrad and Koos Roux (KRC, SANBI, South Africa) for hosting and facilitating deliverables for plant collection. Fieldwork was financed by travel grants to FO from the University of Cádiz (Plan Propio UCA de Investigación) and the Junta de Andalucía (subvención de Incentivos de Actividades Científicas 2/2007). Financial support for lab work has been provided by project VAMPIRO (CGL2008-05289-C02-01/BOS), financed by the Spanish Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación, and project P07-RNM-02869, financed by the Junta de Andalucía. JGSM was granted by an ARAID (Agencia Aragonesa para la Investigación y el Desarrollo, Spain) postdoctoral contract.Peer reviewe