Development of microsatellite markers in a riparian shrub, Spiraea thunbergii (Rosaceae).

PREMISE OF THE STUDY: Microsatellite primers in the deciduous shrub Spiraea thunbergii were developed to investigate genetic diversity and population genetic structure. Cross-species transferability was assayed in four congeneric species. METHODS AND RESULTS: Using a compound simple sequence repeat (SSR) marker method, 10 primer sets were identified in Japanese populations of S. thunbergii. The primers amplified compound SSRs with two to five alleles per locus. More than half of the primers were also amplified in S. prunifolia, S. nipponica var. nipponica, and S. japonica. CONCLUSIONS: These markers might be useful for future studies of population genetics of S. thunbergii and congeneric species.