MICROSATELLITE LOCI IN AN ENDANGERED FERN SPECIES, ATHYRIUM VIRIDESCENTIPES (WOODSIACEAE), AND CROSS-SPECIES AMPLIFICATION.

Premise of the study: Microsatellite markers were characterized in Athyrium viridescentipes , a critically endangered fern species in Japan, to investigate its genetic diversity and population structure. Methods and Results: Fifteen microsatellite markers were developed. The 15 loci were successfully amplified in three additional Athyrium species except for one locus in A. vidalii . In A. viridescentipes , the number of alleles per locus ranged from one to fi ve, with an average of 1.9, and the expected heterozygosity ranged from 0.00 to 0.53, with an average of 0.24. Conclusions: These markers can be used in studies on conservation programs for A. viridescentipes as well as in further studies involving other Athyrium species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]