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Development of a set of highly polymorphic genomic microsatellites (gSSRs) in Sitka spruce (Picea sitchensis (Bong.) Carr.)

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Abstract

Robust, polymorphic microsatellite DNA markers (simple sequence repeats—SSRs) are valuable tools for a range of tree conservation and breeding applications. SSRs are routinely used in the study of population genetic structure and diversity, pedigree reconstruction and genetic linkage mapping. Their abundance in the genome, co-dominant inheritance and potential for cross-species amplification make microsatellites highly prized markers. This paper characterises 22 novel genomic polymorphic microsatellite loci for Sitka spruce (Picea sitchensis (Bong.) Carr.). Amplification of DNA from Sitka spruce material was carried out both with a set of unrelated trees to obtain diversity statistics for each locus, and with the progeny of a full-sib family to test simple Mendelian inheritance. Observed heterozygosity ranged from 0.38 to 0.91 and allele number per locus ranged from 6 to 21, with a mean of 12.2. In addition, the primer pairs were tested with DNA from Norway spruce (P. abies) and white spruce (P. glauca) to investigate their potential for cross-species amplification and ten loci amplified in all three species. The results from these genomic microsatellites are compared to data generated from microsatellites derived from Picea EST libraries. In summary, this novel, highly polymorphic markers represent a significant addition to the rapidly expanding Picea genomics tool-box.

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Acknowledgments

We are grateful to Andrew Peace and Tom Connolly, Biometrics Division, Forest Research, for statistical support.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Forest Research, Northern Research Station, Roslin, Midlothian, EH25 9SY, Scotland, UK

    Stuart W. A’Hara & Joan Elizabeth Cottrell

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  1. Stuart W. A’Hara
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  2. Joan Elizabeth Cottrell
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Correspondence to Stuart W. A’Hara.

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A’Hara, S.W., Cottrell, J.E. Development of a set of highly polymorphic genomic microsatellites (gSSRs) in Sitka spruce (Picea sitchensis (Bong.) Carr.). Mol Breeding 23, 349–355 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11032-008-9242-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11032-008-9242-y

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