Cross-Species Transferability of Specific SSR Markers from Carex curvula (Cyperaceae) to Other Carex Species

Abstract

Microsatellites are codominant markers that, due to their high polymorphism, are a common choice for detecting genetic variability in various organisms, including fungi, plants, and animals. However, the process of developing these markers is both costly and time-consuming. As a result, the cross-species amplification has become a more rapid and more affordable alternative in biological studies. The objective of this study was to assess the applicability of 13 SSR markers, originally designed for Carex curvula, in other 14 species belonging to different sections of the genus. All the markers were successfully transferred with a mean of 90.76%, and 100% transferability was reached in two species (C. baldensis and C. rupestris). The lowest transferability was registered in the G165 marker, which did not produce amplification in six species. Together, the microsatellites amplified a total of 183 alleles, ranging from 10 to 19 alleles per locus, with an average of 14.07. The mean number of different alleles ranged from 0.846 to a maximum of 2.077 per locus. No significant departures from the Hardy–Weinberg equilibrium were detected in polymorphic loci. The transferability of the 13 SSR markers proved highly successful in various Carex species, across different clades and sections of the genus.