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

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 Panax notoginseng. The polymorphisms were assessed in two populations and an assemblage containing individuals from the entire distribution area. The number of alleles per locus ranged from 3 to 12, with a mean of 5.8; 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 investigating the genetic diversity of this cultivated Panax notoginseng as well as assist in cultivar breeding.