Microsatellite Markers for the Study of Mixed Mating in Hibiscus Aponeurus and H. Flavifolilus from Kenya

Abstract

In a mixed mating system, plants use both self- and cross-pollination to produce seeds. Observations of pollinator behavior from populations of two Kenyan Hibiscus species suggest that H. aponeurus uses self-pollination at higher rates than does the co-occurring H. flavifolius. To begin testing this hypothesis, we sought to develop a suite of variable genetic loci to use in measuring levels of selfing and outcrossing in natural populations. We tested five microsatellite primer pairs from each of four Hibiscus species for amplification in H. aponeurus and H. flavifolius. Eight loci were subsequently tested for genetic variation, but were found to be monomorphic in both species. Gene sequencing suggested that evolutionary changes within these loci could account for the lack of inter-individual variation.