Premise of the study: Microsatellite markers were developed in Actaea racemosa to analyze population genetic structure, compare genetic diversity across the species' range, and provide a genetic context for studies of phytochemical variation.
Methods and results: A total of seven polymorphic loci were screened in 60 individuals from 12 localities. The number of alleles per locus ranged from three to six, and observed heterozygosity ranged from 0.133 to 0.900. Most of the loci tested cross-amplified in A. pachypoda, A. podocarpa, and A. rubra, indicating the utility of these markers for the genus.
Conclusions: These new loci will provide tools for population genetics studies, including the characterization of genetic variation in A. racemosa and other eastern North American species of Actaea.