Novel microsatellite markers for conservation of Australian native Samadera bidwillii

Microsatellite markers were developed for Samadera bidwillii, a nationally listed vulnerable shrub or small tree, to enable investigation of its genetic structure and diversity within and among populations from its known distribution throughout coastal areas mainly in fragmented and disturbed lands from Mackay to Gympie, Queensland, Australia. The loci were tested for cross-amplification in related Samadera species. Ten polymorphic microsatellite markers were isolated and characterised from an enriched library of S. bidwillii, which exhibited di- and trinucleotide repeats. The mean number of alleles per locus ranged from 1.3 to 2.5 and mean expected and observed heterozygosities ranged from 0.06 to 0.33 and from 0.03 to 0.26, respectively in five populations. All loci successfully amplified in six other closely associated Samadera species also reported from Australia. Developed loci can be used in genetic diversity, population structure and gene flow studies with an emphasis on the conservation of S. bidwillii and related species.