Development and characterization of novel tetra- and dinucleotide microsatellite markers for the French Polynesia black-lipped pearl oyster, Pinctada margaritifera

Ten microsatellite loci were developed for the black-lipped pearl oyster Pinctada margaritifera with a magnetic bead enrichment protocol. These tetra- and dinucleotide markers were polymorphic, with 10 to 43 alleles observed in 97 individuals from two Tuamotu atoll populations. Most loci revealed significant genic differentiation between the two populations and also exhibited some degree of heterozygote deficiencies, probably due to the presence of null alleles. These loci should be very useful to describe genetic structure, genetic variability and reproductive success in the various aquaculture and wild populations of pearl oyster in French Polynesia.