Isolation of nuclear microsatellite loci in the African tree Scorodophloeus zenkeri (Fabaceae)

Scorodophloeus zenkeri is a tropical tree from mature rainforests of Central Africa, locally threatened by overexploitation. Ten nuclear microsatellite markers, amplifiable in two multiplexed reactions, were developed and characterized in one population. The levels of polymorphism observed (3–15 alleles per locus, expected heterozygosity ranging from 0.198 to 0.905) point at the promising application of the markers for conservation purposes regarding the location of past forest refugia, assessment of mating system and evaluation of genetic diversity in isolated and threatened populations.