SSR markers for analysing South American Nothofagus species

11 newly discovered microsatellites were used to identify SSR markers for characterising South American Nothofagus species. This was carried out in six species. The sample sizes used were between four and six individuals per species. The cross-genera transferability of 34 Quercus SSRs was also essayed. Out of the 11 new microsatellite markers, three proved to be polymorphic (NnBIO 11, NgBIO 13 and NgBIO 14). The qualitative confirmation of the inheritance of these markers could also be verified. Polymorphism was also observed in five of the cross-genera transferred SSRs (QrBIO7, quru-GA-0A01, quru-GA-0C11, quru-GA-0I01, quru-GA-OM07). The number of alleles per locus found range between 1 and 6 per species. The eight polymorphic SSRs identified in this study will constitute a valuable tool in the gene flow studies that are currently being carried out in natural populations of South American Nothofagus species. The confirmation of cross-species and cross-genera transferability opens the way for the use of SSRs as bridge markers in genetic mapping.