Development of 35 microsatellite markers from heat stress transcription factors in Populus simonii (Salicaceae)

Abstract

Premise of the study: Microsatellite markers within regulators of heat stress transcription factors were identified in the Populus trichocarpa genome, and then developed for P. simonii to investigate the genetic diversity of germplasm resources and to further identify favorable alleles significantly associated with stress-resistant traits.

Methods and results: Thirty-five novel microsatellite markers were identified from genes controlling heat stress transcription factors in P. simonii using a Sanger sequencing protocol. Polymorphisms in 48 individuals from 16 populations of P. simonii revealed that the number of alleles per locus ranged from two to nine with an average of 4.6; the observed heterozygosity and expected heterozygosity per locus varied from 0.143 to 0.857 and from 0.257 to 0.948, respectively.

Conclusions: The new polymorphic markers developed during this study will facilitate the construction of genetic linkage maps and will aid in marker-assisted breeding of a new germplasm with desirable abiotic stress resistance in Populus species.