Characterisation and inheritance of polymorphic plastid microsatellites in Abies

Area of Science:

• Molecular Ecology
• Plant Genetics
• Forestry Science

Background:

• Microsatellite loci are valuable genetic markers for population studies.
• Chloroplast simple sequence repeats (SSRs) offer insights into plant lineage and inheritance.
• Developing polymorphic markers for the genus Abies is crucial for understanding its genetic diversity.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify and sequence polymorphic microsatellite loci in the genus Abies.
• To investigate the inheritance patterns of these newly identified chloroplast SSRs.
• To assess the utility of these markers for population genetics in Abies species, particularly Abies alba.

Main Methods:

• Utilized primer pairs derived from Pinus thunbergii chloroplast SSRs to amplify loci in Abies.
• Analyzed PCR product length variation across six Abies species and within Abies alba.
• Confirmed inheritance patterns through F1 progeny analysis of interspecific and intraspecific crosses.

Main Results:

• Successfully identified two polymorphic microsatellite loci in Abies.
• Demonstrated predominant paternal inheritance of the two SSRs, with maternal variants found in megagametophytes.
• Revealed 36 distinct haplotypes in seven natural populations of Abies alba using these markers.

Conclusions:

• The developed chloroplast SSRs are highly polymorphic and suitable for Abies species.
• These markers exhibit predominantly paternal inheritance, providing valuable genetic information.
• The identified SSRs represent a significant advancement for population genetics research in Abies.