Interspecific amplification of tea tree (Melaleuca alternifolia Myrtaceae)microsatellite loci potential implications for conservation studies

This study investigated the interspecific amplification of 35 microsatellit e loci developed for M. alternifolia across seven other species within the Myrtaceae. All the primers used gave successful amplification of loci in at least one of the species tested. The level of success varied between speci es; 88.6% of primers gave amplification products for Melaleuca spp., 74.3% for Callistemon salignus, 45.7% for Eucalyptus spp. and 25.7% for Backhousi a citriodora. Sequencing of a number of amplification products confirmed th e presence of microsatellites in those loci. This study shows that the deve lopment of species-specific microsatellite libraries might not always be ne cessary. Cross-species amplification could enable the application of micros atellite technology to studies with limited resources, a feature characteri stic of conservation projects.