Development of 20 chloroplast microsatellite primers in wuyao (Lindera aggregata, Lauraceae)

PREMISE OF THE STUDY: To investigate the population genetics and evolutionary history of wuyao (Lindera aggregata, Lauraceae) and other Lindera species, polymorphic chloroplast microsatellite (cpSSR) primers were developed. METHODS AND RESULTS: The complete chloroplast genome of L. glauca was used to design 74 primers for L. aggregata. Agarose gel electrophoresis and Sanger sequencing were used to select 20 polymorphic primers. These primers were then tested in 70 individuals from three populations of L. aggregata. The number of alleles ranged from two to four, and the unbiased haploid diversity index ranged from 0.457 to 0.685. Up to 17 primers successfully amplified in four other Lindera species: L. prattii, L. chunii, L. lungshengensis, and L. pulcherrima var. hemsleyana. CONCLUSIONS: The 20 primers reported here can potentially be used for future genetic studies of L. aggregata and other Lindera species.