DEVELOPMENT OF MICROSATELLITE MARKERS FOR Balfourodendron riedelianum (Engl.) Engl. (PAU MARFIM - IVORY TREE): AN ENDANGERED HIGH VALUE TROPICAL TREE (SCIENTIFIC NOTE)

Abstract

Pressure on tropical forests by agriculture and livestock expansion, frequently leads to highly fragmented and isolated populations. Limited gene fow drives increased drift and genetic differentiation among populations, ultimately reducing the overall genetic diversity of forest tree species. Balforoudendron riedelianum (Engl.) Engl., commonly known as pau marfm (ivory tree), a valuable Brazilian hardwood tree used in carpentry and building, is currently endangered due to logging and forest fragmentation. Information on genetic diversity and structure of remnants populations is necessary to support its conservation and sustainable management. Microsatellite markers are an effective tool for understanding and quantifying the effects of fragmentation on genetic diversity. Seven microsatellite markers were developed and validated using a sample of 98 individuals. The number of alleles per locus ranged from 3 to 25, the observed and expected heterozygosities from 0.051 to 0.909 and 0.050 to 0.930, respectively, the fxation index corrected for null alleles from 0.036 to 1.0 and all markers were found in linkage equilibrium. This microsatellite marker set is suitable to estimate population genetic parameters in support of sustainable management and conservation, and to assess relatedness and parentage in breeding populations.