Development of polymorphic microsatellite loci in Lithocarpus harlandii (Fagaceae)

Evergreen broadleaved forests (EBLFs) are the most important vegetation type in subtropical China, but suffer from rapid decline by anthropogenic disturbances and notoriously exacerbated environment. Genetic information of Lithocarpus harlandii (Hance) Rehd. (Fagaceae), one of the main constructive species in subtropical EBLFs, is crucial to the conservation and management of these forests. We developed 12 microsatellite loci from its nuclear genome to provide efficient markers for analyzing the population genetic diversity and differentiation and thereby for designing appropriate conservation strategies. These loci were tested in three L. harlandii populations. The numbers of alleles per locus varied from 3 to 13. The observed and expected heterozygosities within populations were 0.379–0.967 and 0.406–0.849, respectively. No linkage disequilibrium was detected among loci. These polymorphic microsatellites will be useful for biodiversity conservation and forest restoration.