Isolation, characterisation and transferability of microsatellites for Paraserianthes lophantha, Cape Wattle (Leguminosae: Mimosoideae): a significant weed worldwide

We isolated microsatellite markers from Paraserianthes lophantha and screened these, plus eight loci from species of Acacia s.s. and Pithecellobium, for polymorphism in 42 individuals of P. lophantha: 20 from one native population and 22 from across the native and introduced range in southern Australia. Nine loci were polymorphic Observed heterozygosity ranged from 0 to 0.800 (mean 0.389) and the number of alleles per locus ranged from 1 to 6 (average of 3.444) in the native population. Crossspecies transferability of polymorphic loci was tested on eight species of Acacia s.s. and 11 of tribe Ingeae. Amplification success varied between loci and taxa; the ingioid taxa from South-East Asia and Australia amplified most successfully. These loci will be useful in understanding the genetic variation and control of this significant worldwide weed.