Characterization of 30 microsatellite markers in distylous Primula sinolisteri (Primulaceae) using HiSeq sequencing

Premise of the Study Microsatellite markers were developed for Primula sinolisteri, a perennial distylous herb belonging to section Obconicolisteri (Primulaceae), to facilitate future investigations of the population genetics and mating patterns of populations in this species. Methods and Results We developed 30 microsatellite markers for P. sinolisteri using HiSeq X-Ten sequencing and measured polymorphism and genetic diversity in a sample of 36 individuals from three natural populations. The markers displayed relatively high polymorphism, with the number of observed alleles per locus ranging from one to 19 (mean = 4.42). The observed and expected heterozygosity ranged from 0-1.000 and 0.083-0.882, respectively. Twenty-nine of the loci were also successfully amplified in homostylous P. sinolisteri var. aspera. Conclusions The microsatellite markers we have identified in P. sinolisteri provide powerful tools for investigating patterns of population genetic diversity and the evolutionary relationships between heterostyly and homostyly in this species.