The impact of asexual and sexual reproduction in spatial genetic structure within and between populations of the dioecious plant Marchantia inflexa (Marchantiaceae).

Background And Aims: In dioecious plants, sexual reproduction requires close proximity to potential mates, but clonal growth can increase this distance and, therefore, reduce the probability of mating. Reduction in sexual propagules can lead to decreased dispersal and gene flow between populations. Gene flow and clonal growth may be further influenced by the size of the habitat patch.

An efficient technique for primer development and application that integrates fluorescent labeling and multiplex PCR.

Premise Of The Study: Development of genetic markers can be costly and time-consuming, especially when multiple primer pairs are fluorescently labeled. This step was streamlined by combining two techniques in the same PCR reaction: (1) custom-labeling of primers by the investigator and (2) multiplexing multiple primers together in the same reaction. •

Methods And Results: This technique was successfully used to develop microsatellite markers in several plant species.

Characterization of 12 polymorphic microsatellite markers in the liverwort Marchantia inflexa (Marchantiaceae).

Premise Of The Study: Microsatellite markers were developed in Marchantia inflexa, a haploid liverwort with unisexual individuals, to identify clonal genotypes and measure population genetic variability.

Methods And Results: Twelve polymorphic primer sets were developed from three enriched genomic libraries. Primers were fluorescently labeled, and alleles were identified by fragment analysis.

Isolation and characterization of microsatellite markers in the rare clonal plant, Spiraea virginiana (Rosaceae).

Premise Of The Study: Microsatellite markers were developed in Spiraea virginiana, a federally threatened native shrub found along stream banks, to identify clonal genotypes and measure population genetic variability. •

Methods And Results: Eleven primer sets were developed using a non-radioactive protocol. These revealed a moderate level of genetic variation, as indicated by the number of alleles per locus (range = 1-4) and an average observed heterozygosity of 0.