ISOLATION, CHARACTERISATION AND CROSS-SPECIES AMPLIFICATION OF NUCLEAR MICROSATELLITES IN THE AFRICAN TREE GENUS GREENWAYODENDRON (ANNONACEAE)

Abstract

Greenwayodendron is a genus of rainforest trees endemic to tropical Africa. Eight nuclear microsatellite loci, amplifiable in two multiplexed reactions, were developed in G. suaveolens and cross-amplified in the second species of the genus, G. oliveri, as well as in all subspecies and varieties recognised by current taxonomic treatments. Characterisation of the microsatellite markers in one population of G. suaveolens from Cameroon revealed polymorphism levels suitable for characterisation of the spatial genetic variation (7 to 16 alleles per locus and expected heterozygosity ranging from 0.57 to 0.89). The eight microsatellite loci optimised could help estimate genetic diversity levels in populations of G. suaveolens, G. oliveri and new local endemic species of Greenwayodendron in rainforests from western and central Africa.