Characterization of functional SSR markers in Prosopis alba and their transferability across Prosopis species

Abstract

Aim of study: The aim of the study was to characterize functional microsatellite markers in Prosopis alba and examine the transferability to species from the Prosopis genus.Area of the study: samples were obtained from natural populations of Argentina.Material and Methods: Eleven SSR functional markers related to stress and metabolism were amplified in a sample of 152 genotypes from P. alba, P. denudans, P. hassleri P. chilensis, P. flexuosa, and interspecific hybrids.Main results: In P. alba, the PIC average value was 0.36; and 6 out of the 11 primers showed high values of polymorphism ranging from 0.40 to 0.71. The cross-species transferability was high with high percentages of polymorphic loci.Research highlights: The SSR markers developed in P.alba were easily transferred to other Prosopis species which did not have functional markers.Keywords: genetic variation; functional markers; microsatellites; prosopis.Abbreviations: PIC: Polymorphic Information Content; PCR: Polymerase Chain Reaction; SSR: Simple Sequence Repeat.