Characterisation and cross-species transferability of microsatellites in the common fig (Ficus carica L.)

In this work, 26 polymorphic microsatellites have been developed from a genomic library of fig (Ficus carica L., Moraceae, cv. 'Cuello de Dama Blanco') enriched for CT/AG repeats. The microsatellite enrichment procedure was highly successful, since over 60% of the clones sequenced contained microsatellite sequences. Microsatellite polymorphism was evaluated in a sample of 15 fig cultivars representative of different geographical areas. A total of 79 fragments were amplified, with an average of three fragments per SSR. The mean expected and observed heterozygosities over the 25 single-locus microsatellites averaged 0.42 (range of 0.12-0.77) and 0.47 (range of 0.13-0.93), respectively. The total value for the probability of identity was 2.81 X 10(-8). Eleven different patterns were obtained, allowing unambiguous identification of nine fig cultivars. The low values of variability, and the absence of clear groups in the genotypes studied indicate a narrow genetic base in cultivated common fig. The selected SSRs were also used to amplify DNA from 13 Ficus and two Morus species illustrating the high transferability of the microsatellites studied.