(CYPERACEAE), A DOMINANT SPECIES OF THE STEPPE ON THE QINGHAI-TIBETAN PLATEAU 1

 Premise of the study: Microsatellite markers were developed in Carex moorcroftii , a rhizomatous clonal sedge that dominates the steppes and meadows of the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau.  Methods and Results: Using the combined biotin capture method, 30 microsatellite primer sets were isolated and characterized. Twenty-two of these markers showed polymorphism, and the number of alleles per locus ranged from two to 11 across 96 individuals from four populations.  Conclusions: These markers provide a useful tool to investigate the clonal structure and mating system of C. moorcroftii.