Microsatellite marker applications in Cyclopia (Fabaceae) species

Cyclopia species, from which honeybush tea is made, are endemic to the Fynbos Biome of South Africa. Despite its commercial importance, no molecular resources are available to characterise this genus. The polyploid nature of the genus furthermore complicates the use of molecular markers. The Agricultural Research Council (ARC) maintains a field gene bank for several species. A set of six microsatellite markers was developed from C. subternata. These were used to characterise the accessions, thereby facilitating the management of the gene bank, such as keeping track of clones for seed orchards or commercial release and the avoidance of duplicates. In addition, the genetic diversity of three C. subternata wild populations was investigated and compared to the accessions. The C. subternata accessions were representative of the wild samples, excluding those from the genetically distinct Haarlem population. The microsatellite markers developed in this study can be used in the characterisation of wild populations of other species that could be included in the field gene bank and to detect, for example, gene flow between cultivated material and wild populations of Cyclopia. Further conservation strategies include the monitoring of wild harvesting as well as the inclusion of samples from the Haarlem population into the gene bank for the conservation of this genetically distinct population.