Polymorphic chloroplast microsatellite loci in Nelumbo (Nelumbonaceae)

PREMISE OF THE STUDY To study population genetics, phylogeography, and hybridization of Nelumbo (Nelumbonaceae), chloroplast microsatellite markers were developed. METHODS AND RESULTS Seventeen microsatellite loci were identified from the chloroplast genomes of N. nucifera and N. lutea. Polymorphisms were assessed in three populations of N. nucifera and one population of N. lutea. Nine loci were found to be polymorphic in N. nucifera, and all 17 loci were found to be polymorphic in N. lutea. In N. nucifera, the number of alleles per locus ranged from two to six, and the unbiased haploid diversity per locus ranged from 0.198 to 0.790. In N. lutea, the number of alleles ranged from two to four, and the unbiased haploid diversity per locus ranged from 0.245 to 0.694. CONCLUSIONS The identified chloroplast simple sequence repeat markers will be useful for the study of genetic diversity, phylogeography, and identification of Nelumbo cultivars.