Intra-population Variability in Microsatellite Markers for Cattail Species

In Midwest wetlands, there are four problematic plant invaders, one being Typha spp. (cattails).  Some invasive species can crossbreed with native species and produce hybrids that are more aggressive than the parental species.  Regionally, there are three cattail species: Typha latifolia (native), Typha angustifolia (exotic), and their hybrid Typha x glauca.  Typha x glauca and T. angustifolia form monocultures, decreasing biodiversity and affecting ecosystem function.  Wetland managers frequently observe cattail stands dominating their sites, which is cause for great concern to the integrity of these ecosystems. However, field identification is unreliable due to the overlapping morphological features among all three species.  We are thus implementing molecular tools (microsatellites) to aid in identification of species-specific markers.  Our preliminary work has shown that six microsatellites are diagnostic of the three species.  In order to analyze intra-population variability in these markers, we collected 35 individuals from each species from the same area to avoid confounding with other environmental variables.  Qiagen DNeasy® Plant Mini Kits were used to extract DNA from these 105 samples.  We are currently optimizing amplification of these six microsatellite loci using PCR.  These microsatellites will be visualized in a gene sequencer and analyzed using the sequencer software.  In the future, we will also address inter-population variability by extending our sampling for the three species from populations that encompass a wider geographic area.  Our ultimate goal is to have these protocols to help environmental managers when attempting to restore areas heavily invaded by cattail species.