Novel Microsatellite Markers for the High-Alpine Geum reptans (Rosaceae)

Premise of the study: Geum reptans reproduces by outcrossing or by the formation of stolons. Sexual and clonal reproduction are not exclusive and occur mostly simultaneously. We developed novel microsatellite primers for this species, which will be used in a study about local adaptation, phenotypic plasticity, and random molecular divergence of alpine plants. Methods and Results: Twelve microsatellite primer sets were developed for G. reptans, of which nine were polymorphic. Initially, the forward primers had an M13 tail, and the allelic signals of each locus were amplified using a single fluorescent-labeled M13 forward sequence. In the running phase, a multiplex PCR assay was developed using different fluorophore-labeled forward primers. Two to 11 alleles were found per locus, depending on the studied population. Conclusions: Identical multilocus genotypes (i.e., clonal offspring) were not found because individuals in our sampling were at least 4 m distant from each other. FST–QST analysis will be applied to detect selection processes in populations of G. reptans across the Alps.