Isolation and characterization of polymorphic microsatellite loci in Rubus alceifolius Poir. (Rosaceae), an invasive weed in La Reunion island

This study characterized eight microsatellite loci of the invasive weed Rubus alceifolius, and represents the first microsatellite markers published for any Rubus species. They proved to be highly polymorphic in Asian natural populations, and could be used to compare the reproductive biology of this weed between its native range and its areas of introduction. A screening of a Vietnamese half-sib progeny showed that sexuality occurs in this geographical range of R. alceifolivs. Moreover, four of them could be potentially transferable to 14 other tropical Rubus species from the subgenera Idaeobatus and Malachobatus.