Microsatellite marker development for two species of holly-leafed Grevillea and cross-species amplification in the Aspleniifolia/ Hookeriana Subgroup (Proteaceae).

We identified 14 informative microsatellite loci from two taxa, Grevillea aquifolium (6) and G. infecunda (8), belonging to the Pteridifolia Group, Aspleniifolia/ Hookeriana Subgroup (Proteaceae). Loci were screened for variability among 20 individuals of their source species. The number of alleles observed per locus for G. infecunda ranged from 1 to 3. Subsequent chromosome counts revealed between 20 (normal diploid) and 30 (triploid) chromosomes in different individuals. High levels of variability were observed with the number of alleles per locus ranging from 3 to 17, with a mean of 9.8 across all loci. Nei's genetic diversity ( H) ranged from 0.399 to 0.992 with a mean of 0.783. All loci amplified in a further 9-13 taxa from the same subgroup and under the same amplification conditions. These new markers provide useful tools for evolutionary and conservation studies assessing clonality and polyploidy in this important Australian genus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]