Characterization of microsatellite loci in Tilia platyphyllos (Malvaceae) and cross-amplification in related species.

Premise Of The Study: Microsatellite markers in the genus Tilia were developed to investigate the genetic variation in T. platyphyllos and its relationship with T. cordata. •

Methods And Results: Fifteen microsatellite markers were developed using a microsatellite enrichment protocol. Most loci show a high level of polymorphism in two T. platyphyllos populations from France. The number of alleles ranged from one to 15, with a mean of 8.96. The mean observed and expected heterozygosities were 0.71 and 0.70, respectively. Cross-amplification results indicated that 12 out of 15 loci amplified polymorphic loci in 23 species in the genus. •

Conclusions: These markers will be useful tools for investigating the phylogeography and hybridization of Tilia species.