Fine-scale population genetic structure of sugar kelp, Saccharina latissima (Laminariales, Phaeophyceae), in eastern Maine, USA.

ABSTRACT: There is an interest to develop sugar kelp (Saccharina latissima) cultivation in the rural, eastern Maine region of the USA. Future farming efforts would benefit from an understanding of the genetic diversity and population structure of kelp, to inform management and conservation, and to identify genetic resources. The purpose of the present study was to characterize the fine-scale population genetic structure of kelp in eastern Maine, using twelve microsatellite loci. A total of 188 samples were genotyped from five sampling locations. Overall, kelp exhibited relatively low genetic diversity and small but significant differentiation among populations (F_ST = 0.0157). The greatest genetic difference was detected between two geographically close populations in Penobscot and

SUBMITTER: Breton TS 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5695712 | biostudies-literature | 2018

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature