MICROSATELLITE MARKERS FOR POPULATION AND CONSERVATION GENETICS OF TROPICAL TREES

We have developed microsatellite or simple sequence repeat (SSR) genet ic markers for the tropical tree Pithecellobium elegans (Mimosoideae). The frequency of this class of marker is estimated and the level and distribution of variability at these markers is assessed and contraste d to that found at isozyme markers in the same populations. The result s indicate that SSR loci are powerful tools for the analysis of popula tion structure and that, in these populations, they provide a means of accurately examining two important parameters in conservation biology , gene how and paternity.