Development and Characterization of Polymorphic Microsatellite Loci in Phellodendron amurense (Rutaceae)

Premise of the study: Microsatellite markers were developed for the rare species Phellodendron amurense to assess the genetic diversity and population structure of this plant. Methods and Results: In total, 27 microsatellite markers were developed for P. amurense by using an enriched genomic library and hybridization; all of these primers successfully amplified DNA fragments in P. amurense. These markers were screened in 74 individuals from four populations in China; 15 loci were found to be polymorphic, with the number of alleles per locus ranging from one to nine. Conclusions: The microsatellite markers developed here represent a useful tool for studying the population genetic structure of P. amurense and to inform toward the development of effective conservation programs for this species.