SREL Reprint #3369

Development of microsatellite markers for buffalograss (Buchloë dactyloides; Poaceae), a drought-tolerant turfgrass alternative

Jacob J. Hadle1, Lauren A. Konrade1, Rochelle R. Beasley2, Stacey L. Lance2,
Kenneth L. Jones3, and James B. Beck1,4

1Department of Biological Sciences, Wichita State University, 537 Hubbard Hall,
Wichita, Kansas 67260 USA
2Savannah River Ecology Laboratory, University of Georgia, Aiken, South Carolina 29802 USA
3Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, University of Colorado School of Medicine,
Aurora, Colorado 80045 USA
4Botanical Research Institute of Texas, 1700 University Drive, Fort Worth, Texas 76107 USA

Premise of the study: Buchloë dactyloides (Poaceae) is an important component of Great Plains prairies and a popular drought-tolerant turfgrass alternative in North America. This species comprises an autopolyploid series, and microsatellite primers were developed to understand the distribution of genetic variation among cytotypes and across its large geographic range.
Methods and Results: Fifteen microsatellite loci were designed and successfully amplified in six B. dactyloides populations. Within-population genetic diversity was comparatively high, consistent with B. dactyloides’ life history. Allelic variation at 13 loci was consistent with the cytotype established in chromosome-counted samples.
Conclusions: This variable, interpretable set of loci allows for the determination of multilocus genotype in B. dactyloides individuals of varying cytotype. Data such as these from a range-wide sample set can provide important insights for germplasm conservation and crop improvement in this ecologically and economically important species.

Keywords: Buchloë dactyloides; Great Plains; Illumina sequencing; native turfgrass alternative; Poaceae; polyploidy; simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers

SREL Reprint #3369

Hadle, J. J., L. A. Konrade, R. R. Beasley, S. L. Lance, K. L. Jones, and J. B. Beck. 2016. Development of microsatellite markers for buffalograss (Buchloë dactyloides; Poaceae), a drought-tolerant turfgrass alternative. Applications in Plant Sciences 4(8): 1600033.

This information was provided by the University of Georgia's Savannah River Ecology Laboratory (srel.uga.edu).