Mendelian segregation in eight microsatellite loci from hand- and open-pollinated progenies of Araucaria angustifolia (Bert.) O. Kuntze (Araucariaceae)

In order to use molecular markers in population genetics studies, it is important to confirm that the molecular markers used present a Mendelian segregation. The aim of this paper was to investigate the genetic segregation of eight microsatellite loci of Araucaria angustifolia (Bert.) O. Kuntze (Araucariaceae). The study was carried out comparing genetic segregation in hand- and open-pollinated progenies of maternal dioecious and monoecious trees. The Mendelian segregation was confirmed for all eight loci studied (Ag20, Ag23, Ag45, Aang01, Aang14, Aang28, As90 and CRCAc1), as no deviation from the expected segregation hypothesis was detected in the studied progenies. Therefore, these eight loci can be used for further population genetics studies of A. angustifolia.