Transferability of microsatellite markers to Syagrus harleyi (Mart.) Becc. (Arecaceae), an endemic species from the Diamantina Plateau, a biodiversity hotspot in northeastern Brazil

Transferibilidade de marcadores microssatélites para Syagrus harleyi (Mart.) Becc. (Arecaceae), uma espécie endêmica da Chapada Diamantina, um hotspot de biodiversidade no Nordeste do Brasil

Syagrus harleyi is a stemless palm endemic to a small area in the Diamantina Plateau (Bahia, northeastern Brazil), a biodiversity hotspot in South America. The natural range of this species has been intensively affected by landscape fragmentation and fire episodes. In turn, no information about the levels of genetic variation and the evolutionary potential of S. harleyi is available so far. Thus, this study evaluated the cross-amplification of microsatellite (SSR) primers developed from three phylogenetically related palm species to S. harleyi. A total of 30 individuals from three populations were analyzed using 19 heterologous microsatellite loci. Based on 10 polymorphic loci, we identified a mean number of 4.1. alleles per locus and mean values of expected and observed heterozygosity of 0.579 and 0.780, respectively. These results showed that these loci are fully transferable and could be effectively used for genetic diversity assessment of S. harleyi populations focused on their management and conservation.

Key words:
palm tree; endemic species; caatinga; SSR; cross-amplification