New microsatellite loci for pomegranate, Punica granatum (Lythraceae).

ABSTRACT

PREMISE OF THE STUDY A new set of pomegranate microsatellites was selected and characterized to assess the level of genetic diversity among cultivars and wild genotypes. • METHODS AND RESULTS: Nine Simple Sequence Repeat (SSR) markers were obtained using the Microsatellite-AFLP technique and were successfully amplified in 34 genotypes belonging to Italian, Spanish, and Turkish germplasm collections. The number of alleles per locus ranged from 1 to 5, and the total number of alleles was 22. • CONCLUSIONS: Because only a few codominant markers are available for this species, the newly identified SSRs will facilitate genetic diversity studies, fingerprinting, and mapping. In addition, the 9 loci successfully amplified in P. granatum var. nana. No cross transferability was observed for Cuphea micropetala and Lagerstroemia indica (Lythraceae).