We isolated 18 new, polymorphic, microsatellite markers from Holothuria scabra, a commercially important species of sea cucumber found throughout the Asia-Pacific region. Next-generation sequencing was used to identify 206 unique loci for which primers were designed. Of these unique loci, we trialled 65 primer pairs in the target species, and 48 (74%) amplified a product of the expected size. Eighteen loci were found to be polymorphic and reliable, and were screened for variation in 50 individuals, from a single population from Croker Island, Northern Territory, Australia. Observed heterozygosity ranged from 0.00 to 0.96 (mean = 0.46) and the number of alleles per locus from 2 to 28 (mean = 9.61). These loci will be useful for the investigation of population structure and mating systems in H. scabra and may also be of use in other holothurian species.
How to translate text using browser tools
3 April 2013
Isolation and characterisation of eighteen microsatellite markers from the sea cucumber Holothuria scabra (Echinodermata : Holothuriidae)
Alison J. Fitch,
Grant Leeworthy,
Xiaoxu Li,
Will Bowman,
Luke Turner,
Michael G. Gardner
ACCESS THE FULL ARTICLE
Australian Journal of Zoology
Vol. 60 • No. 6
May 2013
Vol. 60 • No. 6
May 2013
GS-FLX
next-generation sequencing