Premise of the study: Carpinus betulus (Betulaceae) is an octoploid, ecologically important, common tree species in European woodlands. We established 11 nuclear microsatellite loci allowing for detailed analyses of genetic diversity and structure.
Methods and results: A microsatellite-enriched library was used to develop primers for 11 microsatellite loci that revealed high allele numbers and genetic diversity in a preliminary study.
Conclusions: All of the loci developed here are informative for C. betulus. In addition, the loci are transferable to several species within the genus, and almost all loci cross-amplified in species of different genera of the Betulaceae.
Keywords: Betulaceae; Carpinus betulus; cross-amplification; microsatellite loci; polyploidy.