Isolation and characterization of polymorphic microsatellite loci in Asiatic sand sedge, Carex kobomugi Ohwi (Cyperaceae)

Fourteen polymorphic microsatellite loci were isolated from Asiatic sand sedge, Carex kobomugi Ohwi (Cyperaceae), a clonal perennial herb predominant in sandy coast vegetation in Japan. Polymorphism was surveyed for 24 ramets within a single population and for eight distinct individuals from six populations. Within a population, between two and eight alleles were found per locus, and expected heterozygosity ranged from 0.041 to 0.720. Among populations, a higher level of polymorphism was observed. The microsatellite loci were shown to be useful for the study of spatial genetic structure at fine scale and genetic differentiation among populations.