Microsatellite primers in Carex moorcroftii (Cyperaceae), a dominant species of the steppe on the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau.

Premise of the study: Microsatellite markers were developed in Carex moorcroftii, a rhizomatous clonal sedge that dominates the steppes and meadows of the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau. Methods and Results: Using the combined biotin capture method, 30 microsatellite primer sets were isolated and characterized. Twenty-two of these markers showed polymorphism, and the number of alleles per locus ranged from two to 11 across 96 individuals from four populations. Conclusions: These markers provide a useful tool to investigate the clonal structure and mating system of C. moorcroftii.