Development of microsatellite markers for Primula oreodoxa (Primulaceae), a distylous-homostylous species.

PREMISE OF THE STUDY:Microsatellite markers were developed for a distylous-homostylous species, Primula oreodoxa (Primulaceae), to investigate the mating patterns and gene flow in the species. METHODS AND RESULTS:Using RAD sequencing, 42,777 contigs were generated. A total of 1566 putative simple sequence repeat (SSR) loci were identified by MISA, and 1433 primer sets were designed. After initial screening of 107 SSR loci, 24 loci displayed polymorphism. The number of alleles per locus detected ranged from one to 11 in the sampled populations of P. oreodoxa. Levels of observed and expected heterozygosity for each locus ranged from 0 to 0.917 and 0 to 0.816, respectively. Fifteen and 13 of these loci could be successfully amplified in the two congeneric species P. obconica and P. heucherifolia, respectively. CONCLUSIONS:The SSR markers developed here will be valuable for genetic analysis and elucidation of mating patterns in P. oreodoxa.