Development of microsatellite markers for the endangered grassland perennial herb Vincetoxicum atratum (Apocynaceae-Asclepiadoideae)

Eight microsatellite markers were developed for the endangered grassland perennial herb Vincetoxicum atratum. The number of alleles ranged from 4 to 14, and the expected heterozygosities were from 0.575 to 0.933 in a population of V. atratum. Five of the eight loci did not significantly deviated from the Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium. All eight loci were tested for cross-species amplification in five other species of Vincetoxicum in Japan. These microsatellite loci will be useful for conservation genetics of V. atratum and other species of Vincetoxicum.