Development of microsatellite markers inBetula costata(Betulaceae) by next-generation sequencing and cross-species transferability test

This study was conducted to develop the first species-specific microsatellite markers inBetula costata. A total of 178 primers were designed from 95,755 contigs and screened in twoB. costatapopulations sampled from Mt. Hwaaksan and Mt. Gyebangsan. A total of 16 polymorphic microsatellite loci were selected and used for population genetic characterization. The average values of observed heterozygosity (H-O) and expected heterozygosity (H-E) of the Mt. Hwaaksan population were 0.488 and 0.493, respectively. The average values ofH(O)andH(E)in the Mt. Gyebangsan population were 0.492 and 0.481, respectively. The null allele frequency was less than 0.2 in all loci. No significant linkage disequilibrium was detected in all combinations of loci. In addition, 26 polymorphic markers were selected by cross-species transferability test toB. costatausing the microsatellite markers developed in four otherBetulaspecies. The cross-species transferability of the microsatellite markers developed inB. costatawas conducted in two otherBetulaspecies. The transferability was 75% inB. ermaniiand 100% inB. davurica. Therefore, the microsatellite markers developed and characterized in this study were expected to be useful for further genetic studies inB. costataand related species in the genusBetula.