Characterization of microsatellite loci in polyploid Lavatera assurgentiflora ssp. assurgentiflora and ssp. glabra (Malvaceae)

Lavatera assurgentiflora (Malvaceae) is one of four species of the genus Lavatera native to California and Baja California. Two geographically defined subspecies are recognized: L. a. assurgentiflora on the northern islands and L. a. glabra on the southern islands. We isolated nine polymorphic microsatellite loci that amplify in both subspecies of L. assurgentiflora. Substantial levels of polymorphism were observed at many of the loci. Four loci exhibited more than 10 alleles, polymorphism information content ranged from 0.4 to 0.8, and up to six alleles were found in some individuals, supporting reports that these taxa are hexaploid. All loci also amplified in Lavatera lindsayi from Guadalupe Island, and we anticipate that they will cross‐amplify in other California Lavatera species as well.     

Isolation of polymorphic microsatellite loci in Crossosoma californicum (Crossosomataceae)

Crossosoma californicum (Crossosomataceae) is a rare shrub species endemic to the California Channel Islands. Previous studies based on allozymes revealed little genetic variability in this plant species. We have isolated 13 polymorphic microsatellite loci from C. californicum. These loci show intermediate levels of variability, averaging 4.2 alleles per locus and expected heterozygosity of 0.376. Two loci did not fit Hardy–Weinberg expectations with significant deficits of heterozygous genotypes consistent with the presence of null alleles or population subdivision.     

Polymorphic microsatellite loci in Lithophragma maximum (Saxifragaceae), an endemic plant of San Clemente Island

In this paper, we report the isolation of 11 polymorphic microsatellite loci from Lithophragma maximum (Saxifragaceae), a rare species restricted to San Clemente Island, California. We found moderate levels of allelic variation (mean N_A= 5.5) and high levels of expected heterozygosity (mean H_E= 0.531) across sampled individuals. However, eight loci showed a significant absence of heterozygous individuals, which we attribute to small population size and demographic history of the species.