Development and characterization of microsatellite markers for Panax notoginseng (Araliaceae), a Chinese traditional herb

Abstract

Premise of the study: Microsatellite primers were developed for a Chinese traditional herb, Panax notoginseng, to investigate its genetic diversity and cultivar breeding. Methods and Results: Twelve polymorphic microsatellite loci were isolated from the microsatellite-enriched genomic library of P. notoginseng. The polymorphisms were assessed in two populations and an assemblage containing individuals from the whole distribution area. The number of alleles per locus ranged from three to 12, with a mean of 5.8, and the observed and expected heterozygosity values ranged from 0.0411 to 0.8472 and from 0.0804 to 0.7653, respectively. Conclusions: These new microsatellite markers will be useful for investigation of the genetic diversity of cultivated P. notoginseng as well as assist in cultivar breeding. © 2011 Botanical Society of America.