Development of 12 polymorphic microsatellite DNA markers for the kelp Ecklonia cava (Phaeophyceae, Laminariales)

Twelve polymorphic microsatellite markers were isolated from the kelp Ecklonia cava Kjellman (Phaeophyceae, Laminariales). The applicability of these markers was confirmed by genotyping of 24 individuals from a natural population in Japan. All 12 loci were polymorphic, with the number of alleles ranging from 2 to 11 per locus. The range of expected heterozygosities in the population was 0.187-0.867. These informative microsatellite markers will be useful in genetic studies of this species.