Development of 15 microsatellite markers in Acer triflorum (Aceraceae) and cross‐amplification in congeneric species

PREMISE OF THE STUDY: Acer (Aceraceae) is an important genus in forest ecosystems in the Northern Hemisphere. In China, 151 species have been reported, and approximately 61 species are endemic. Thus, China is considered to host the greatest diversity of Acer, but markers are needed to evaluate the genetic structure and genetic diversity of these populations of wild Acer species. METHODS AND RESULTS: Using an enriched genomic library, we developed and characterized 15 microsatellite primers for A. triflorum, 10 of which were polymorphic. The number of alleles varied from one to nine. The levels of observed heterozygosity and expected heterozygosity per locus ranged from 0.000 to 1.000 and 0.000 to 0.826, respectively. Most primers also successfully amplified in A. ginnala, A. griseum, A. mandshuricum, A. pseudosieboldianum, A. sinopurpurascens, A. tegmentosum, and A. ukurunduense. CONCLUSIONS: These markers from A. triflorum will provide an opportunity to study genetic diversity and genetic structure in the genus Acer.