MICROSATELLITE MARKER DEVELOPMENT IN ALLIUM TRICOCCUM POPULATIONS FROM THE SOUTHERN APPALACHIAN MOUNTAINS

Camp, David

ABSTRACT Allium tricoccum Aiton is a widely foraged spring ephemeral that has become threatened by overharvesting in recent decades. The life cycle of A. tricoccum is unconducive to the intensive harvests experienced by populations in the southern Appalachian Mountains and steps have been taken by officials from the National Parks Service to reduce illegal harvesting within their borders. Now, park officials hope to restore foraging rights to the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians who have traditionally foraged for A. tricoccum on their land and that within Great Smoky Mountains National Park, which was once Cherokee territory. However, to ensure populations of A. triccocum can withstand renewed foraging, the National Park Service requires an assessment of possible further impacts to the species. To investigate genetic diversity of A. tricoccum populations in Great Smoky Mountains National Park, this study focused on the development of microsatellite markers specific to this taxon. Marker development was largely unsuccessful for reasons as yet unknown, but possible explanations are explored here as well as the implications of a possible loss of genetic diversity in analyzed populations.