An Evaluation of SSR Markers Isolated from Corylus avellana for Genetic Analysis within Four Asian Species of the Genus Castanea

摘要

The potential of SSR markers isolated from European hazelnut, Corylus avellana, for the genetic study of chestnut was evaluated. High conservation of primer binding sites was confirmed in the genus Castanea of the Fagaceae. Seventy percent of 33 SSR primer pairs successfully amplified good PCR products from 30 genotypes of four species of the genus Castanea naturally distributed in Asia. Sequencing results for PCR products showed that fragment length variation was mainly caused by variable repeat number in microsatellites. Allele segregation at SSR loci was observed with a mapping population of chestnut. Forty percent of loci tested in one of two parents were heterozygous. Our study indicated that hazelnut SSR markers were a useful tool for genetic analysis of population and construction of genetic map in the genus Castanea.