基于陆地棉茎尖转录组序列genic-SSR标记的开发与评价

利用软件MISA和SSR Locator对陆地棉(Gossypium hirsutum L.)Coker312茎尖转录组测序得到的73515条Unigene序列进行分析,查找到4507个SSR位点,分布于4039条转录本序列中,SSR位点出现频率为5.5%,非编码区的SSR位点要显著高于编码区(2853/1654)。SSR重复基元中,三核苷酸重复基元占主导地位(51.03%),且AAG/CTT(20.08%)类型最多;其次是二核苷酸重复基元(28.76%),主要为AG/CT(55.47%)。利用引物批量设计软件共开发1569对SSR引物,在陆地棉TM-1、海岛棉3-79(G.barbadense L.)、阿非利加棉(G.herbaceum L.)、雷蒙德氏棉(G.raimondii Ulbrich.)4个棉种中进行初步评价,其中1117对引物能在4个棉种间扩增出稳定的条带,扩增率为71.2%。选择650对能稳定扩增出条带的引物,在涉及5个棉种(增加了亚洲棉(G.arboreum L.))的13份材料中进一步筛选,83对引物能在13份材料中扩增出特异性条带,PIC变幅在0.121~0.648之间,平均值为0.422,其中80对引物能在7份陆地棉材料中扩增出特异性条带,平均PIC值为0.336;挑选5对在本实验室作图亲本鲁棉研22和鲁原343间有明显多态的引物进行连锁分析,其中4对成功连锁到本实验室构建的遗传图谱上。本研究丰富了棉属genic-SSR的数量,为棉属遗传作图、性状关联分析提供了更多引物选择。     

亚麻EST-SSR信息分析与标记开发

与基因组SSR相比,以EST为基础的EST-SSR分子标记具有自身的优点。本研究从11240条亚麻（Linum sitatissmum L.）EST序列中检索出877条含有SSR的序列,其出现频率为7.8%。其中以三核苷酸重复出现的频率最高,占总SSR序列的60.1%;其次是二核苷酸重复,占21.9%;四、五和六核苷酸重复占18%。根据这些含SSR的EST序列共设计了73对SSR引物,在8份亚麻材料间通过PCR扩增检测,有63对引物扩增出清晰条带,引物可用率86.3%;有17对引物在8份亚麻材料间显现出多态性,占可扩增引物的26.3%。     

中间锦鸡儿转录组EST-SSR标记系统性识别与引物筛选

旨在对中间锦鸡儿转录组数据库EST信息进行SSR系统性识别和初步验证,为进一步SSR分子标记开发提供依据。对Hi Seq2000测序技术获得的中间锦鸡儿转录组Unigenes进行SSR位点搜索,共获得45 706个SSR位点,出现频率为10.38%,平均4.30kb出现一个SSR位点。SSR重复类型以单核苷酸重复序列基元为主,所占比例为56.47%;二核苷酸、三核苷酸重复序列基元的数量所占比例分别是20.56%和21.04%;其他数量的基元所占比例仅为1.9%。多核苷酸重复类型中最多的为2核苷酸重复AG/CT;其次为3核苷酸重复AAG/CTT。针对EST-SSR位点随机挑选了150对引物,通过琼脂糖凝胶电泳进行PCR验证,其中有79对能获得扩增条带,21对引物扩增出单一条带,比例为14.0%。     

基于SSR标记的陆地棉早熟相关种质遗传多样性分析

丰富的遗传变异对于提高作物的环境适应性和遗传改良进度至关重要。为了解我国早熟陆地棉种质资源遗传多样性,本研究利用136对SSR引物对186份陆地棉材料(96份早熟陆地棉材料和90份中、晚熟陆地棉材料)进行了遗传多样性分析,共检测到等位基因变异355个,平均2.61个。在早熟棉材料中,有134对多态性SSR引物扩增出341个条带,平均2.54个;中、晚熟材料中有133对多态性SSR引物,扩增出345个条带,平均2.59个。早熟棉材料的位点多态性信息含量(PIC)、有效等位基因数(Ne)、基因型多样性(H')分别为0.684、3.994和1.361;中、晚熟棉材料的PIC、Ne、H'分别为0.668、3.852和1.343。早熟棉材料和中、晚熟棉材料的Jaccard相似性系数分别在0.349~0.935和0.270~0.907之间,平均为0.635、0.666。遗传相似性系数总体平均值接近,但早熟棉变化范围较中、晚熟棉小。用类平均法(UPGMA)进行聚类可将186份材料分成2个类群。总体上来看,供试材料遗传相似性系数较高,说明我国陆地棉早熟相关种质遗传基础狭窄。本研究结果为早熟棉育种亲本选配,早熟棉种质创新提供依据。     

两种黄连转录组中SSR位点信息分析与多态性引物开发

本研究通过对两种黄连,即黄连(Coptis chinensis Franch.)和云南黄连(C.teeta Wall.)转录组中SSR位点信息的分析,设计SSR引物,为开发新的SSR标记提供理论基础。利用MISA工具筛选黄连及云南黄连转录组测序获得的55 903和49 741条Unigenes,对其SSR位点信息进行了分析;Primer3设计SSR引物,随机选取60对引物对两种黄连,每种20株,共40株进行多态性扩增分析。黄连和云南黄连转录组分别搜索到4 071和4 041个SSR位点。两种黄连中二核苷酸和三核苷酸重复皆是主要的类型,分别占总SSR的87.71%和87.58%。黄连中,二核苷酸重复基元出现最多的为AG/CT,共953个,占总SSR的23.40%,三核苷酸重复基元出现最多的为AAG/CTT,共746个,占总SSR的18.3%;在云黄连中,AG/CT和AAG/CTT分别为934(23.10%)和773(19.10%)。随机选取60对引物进行PCR扩增,其中12对(20.00%)表现出多态性差异。利用Populations软件作图,将40个材料分为2类。两种黄连转录组中SSR位点出现频率高,类型丰富;大量的SSR为其遗传多样性分析和遗传图谱构建提供了丰富的候选分子标记。     

龙眼顶芽转录组简单重复序列(SSR)标记信息分析及分子标记开发

随着新一代测序技术的发展,大量的转录组数据和表达序列标签(EST)成为开发简单重复序列(SSR)标记的可利用资源。本研究利用MISA软件筛选龙眼(Dimocarpus longan)顶芽转录组数据库序列,从114 445条龙眼转录组unigene序列中发现11 546个SSR位点,SSR出现频率为10.09%。其中1 975条unigene含有两个或两个以上EST-SSR位点,占所有SSR位点的比例为17.10%,SSR出现的平均距离为7.52 kb。从龙眼转录组SSR核苷酸基序类型来看,二核苷酸(52.11%)和三核苷酸(46.15%)出现频率最高,占所有核苷酸出现频率的99.26%。在龙眼转录组SSR中二核苷酸重复基元出现频率最高的是AG/CT(4 250个,占36.81%),三核苷酸重复基元出现频率最高的是AAG/CTT(1 109个,占9.61%)。对含SSR位点的9 571条unigene序列进行引物设计,共设计出了8 347对SSR位点特异引物。随机挑选合成50对EST-SSR引物,以‘石硖’、‘储良’、‘古山2号’、‘立冬本’等四份龙眼材料的基因组DNA为模板对这批引物进行PCR扩增、筛选,结果表明,其中21对引物能产生理想的PCR产物,有效扩增率为42%;16对引物扩增条带具有多态性,占有效引物的76.2%;16对多态性引物共扩增获得50个条带,其中多态性片段21个,每对引物平均产生1.31个多态性片段。     

基于棉花参比种质的SSR多态性核心引物筛选

棉花品种间遗传多样性的评价和遗传图谱构建都需要大量多态性的SSR标记。本研究通过构建棉花参比种质(panel), 高效快速地筛选出棉花多态性核心引物。本实验选用12份表型性状和遗传差异较大的棉花种质作为参比种质, 对来自Cotton Microsatellite Database (CMD)网站上 (http://www.cottonssr.org) 的5,914对棉花SSR引物进行了PCR扩增。结果表明: 在不同棉种间多态性的引物有4,800对, 约占有效扩增引物(5,300对)的90.6%; 能区分不同品种间差异的引物大约有500对, 占有效扩增引物的9.4%。我们推荐其中319对扩增效果好、条带清晰的引物作为棉花种质资源鉴定和分子指纹分析的核心引物, 其中277对能把陆地棉品种间的差异鉴别出来。此外, 我们还找到了在陆地棉、海岛棉及亚洲棉三大栽培棉中都有差异的13对共同SSR引物, 建议作为分子指纹分析和种质鉴定的首选引物。本研究公开了319对核心SSR引物及其多态性信息, 有利于规范引物筛选程序、提高引物筛选效率, 对棉花种质资源的遗传多样性分析、指纹图谱构建, 以及种子真伪性和纯度的鉴定等都具有现实意义。     

烟草ESTs资源的SSR信息分析

烟草ESTs数量迅速增加为开发新的SSR标记提供了宝贵的资源.经过软件分析,对242 683条烟草ESTs序列剔除冗余序列,在211 728条非冗余烟草ESTs序列中,共检索出9 339个SSR,SSR之间的距离约为14.21 kb,检出率为4.41%,包括216种重复基元.其中三核苷酸重复类型的SSR占主导地位,占总SSR的50.34%,其次为二核苷酸和单核苷酸,分别为23.00%,16.48%,其余重复类型所占比例均不足5%.在所有重复基元中,A/T重复为主要类型,占所有重复14.68%,其次为AT/TA、AG/TC、AAG/TTC,分别为10.49%、9.48%、6.85%.随机设计10对EST-SSR引物,对6个品种烟草进行扩增,10对EST-SSR引物均能扩增出产物,其中1对引物在6个品种有多态性.本研究为烟草EST-SSR标记的建立和进一步应用奠定了基础.     

茶树EST-SSRs分布特征及引物开发

为了在茶树中开发EST-SSRs功能性标记,利用生物信息学方法对NCBI网上公开的3288奈茶树（Camellia subebsus）ESTs序列进行EST-SSRs特征分析。剔除冗余序列,得到非冗余序列2083条。在非冗余序列中发现含不同重复基元SSRs的EST序列有385条,共486个EST-SSRs,平均相隔2．10kb出现1个SSR。在2～6bp的重复基元中,二核苷酸重复基元的SSRs出现频率最高（51．97％）,其次是三核苷酸（19．55％）。对所有的重复基元类型进行统计分析发现,所占比例最高的是AG／CT（47．74％）,其次分别是AT／TA（4．73％）和AAG／CTT（4．73％）。利用Prime5软件,设计了206对EST-SSRs引物,随机选用72对引物进行SSR扩增,发现31对引物可以扩增出条带,其中29对引物具有多态性,多态性比率为93．5％。这些EST-SSRs将有助于茶树基因组学方面的研究。     

基于转录组测序信息的水生植物莕菜SSR标记开发

利用软件MISA对水生植物莕菜转录组测序所获得的79536条EST序列进行分析,共检测出12319个EST-SSR位点。在莕菜的EST-SSR中,二核苷酸和三核苷酸重复单元是主导类型,分别占总SSR的57.31%和30.87%,其中AG/CT、AAG/CTT分别是二、三重复单元类型的优势重复基元,分别占总SSR的29.76%和8.66%。随机挑选了130对EST-SSR引物对莕菜两个居群进行遗传多样性检测,结果发现：78对引物能扩增出清晰可分辨的条带,其中37对能成功检测出多态性,引物多态率为 47.44%。这些多态性引物共检测出114个等位基因,每个位点2~6个,平均3.08个。观测杂合度（H_o）及预期杂合度（H_e）分别在0.229~1.000和0.351~0.756之间,多态信息含量PIC值在0.286~0.698之间,平均达0.495。以上研究结果表明,通过莕菜转录组测序产生的EST数据来开发SSR标记是一种简单而高效的途径,这些新的SSR分子标记为研究莕菜的居群遗传多样性及其遗传结构提供了工具。     

Chromosomal assignment of microsatellite loci in cotton

Microsatellite markers or simple sequence repeats (SSRs) represent a new class of genetic markers for cotton (Gossypium sp.). Sixty-five SSR primer pairs were used to amplify 71 marker loci and genotype 13 monosomic and 27 monotelodisomic cotton cytogenetic stocks. Forty-two SSR loci were assigned to cotton chromosomes or chromosome arms. Thirty SSRs were not located to specific chromosomes in this study. Nineteen marker loci were shown to occur on the A subgenome and 11 on the D subgenome by screening accessions of G. herbaceum (2n = 2x = 26 = 2A1) and G. raimondii (2n = 2x = 26 = 2D5). The aneuploid stocks proved to be very powerful tools for localizing SSR markers to individual cotton chromosomes. Multiplex PCR bins of the SSR primers and semiautomated detection of the amplified products were optimized in this experiment. Thirteen multiplex PCR bins were optimized to contain an average of 4 SSR primer pairs per bin. This provides a protocol for high-throughput genotyping of cotton SSRs that improves the efficiency of genetic mapping and marker-assisted programs utilizing SSR markers.     

Distribution and characterization of simple sequence repeats in Gossypium raimondii genome

Simple sequence repeats (SSRs) can be derived from the complete genome sequence. These markers are important for gene mapping as well as marker-assisted selection (MAS). To develop SSRs for cotton gene mapping, we selected the complete genome sequence of Gossypium raimondii, which consisted of 4447 non-redundant scaffolds. Out of 775.2 Mb sequence examined, a total of 136,345 microsatellites were identified with a density of 5.69 kb per SSR in the G. raimondii genome leading to development of 112,177 primer pairs. The distributions of SSRs in the genome were non-random. Among the different motifs ranging from 1 to 6 bp, penta-nucleotide repeats were most abundant (30.5%), followed by tetra-nucleotide repeats (18.2%) and di-nucleotide repeats (16.9%). Among all identified 457 motif types, the most frequently occurring repeat motifs were poly-AT/TA, which accounted for 79.8% of the total di-nt SSRs, followed by AAAT/TTTA with 51.5% of the total tetra-nucleotede. Further, 18,834 microsatellites were detected from the protein-coding genes, and the frequency of gene containing SSRs was 46.0% in 40,976 genes of G. raimondii. These genome-based SSRs developed in the present study will lay the groundwork for developing large numbers of SSR markers for genetic mapping, gene discovery, genetic diversity analysis, and MAS breeding in cotton.     

The role of induced mutation in conversion of photoperiod dependence in cotton

Wild cotton germplasm resources are largely underutilized because of photoperiod-dependent flowering of "exotic" cottons. The objectives of this work were to explore the genome-wide effect of induced mutation in photoperiod-converted induced cotton mutants, estimating the genetic change between mutant and wild-type cottons using simple sequence repeats (SSRs) as well as understand the pattern of SSR mutation in induced mutagenesis. Three groups of photoperiod-converted radiomutants ((32)P) including their wild-type parental lines, A- and D-genome diploids, and typically grown cotton cultivars were screened with 250 cotton SSR primer pairs. Forty SSRs revealed the same SSR mutation profile in, at least, 2 independent mutant lines that were different from the original wild types. Induced mutagenesis both increased and decreased the allele sizes of SSRs in mutants with the higher mutation rate in SSRs containing dinucleotide motifs. Genetic distance obtained based on 141 informative SSR alleles ranged from 0.09 to 0.60 in all studied cotton genotypes. Genetic distance within all photoperiod-converted induced mutants was in a 0.09-0.25 range. The genetic distance among photoperiod-converted mutants and their originals ranged from 0.28 to 0.50, revealing significant modification of mutants from their original wild types. Typical Gossypium hirsutum cultivar, Namangan-77, revealed mutational pattern similar to induced radiomutants in 40 mutated SSR loci, implying possible pressure to these SSR loci not only in radiomutagenesis but also during common breeding process. Outcomes of the research should be useful in understanding the photoperiod-related mutations, and markers might help in mapping photoperiodic flowering genes in cotton.     

Genome-Wide Characterization of Simple Sequence Repeat (SSR) Loci in Chinese Jujube and Jujube SSR Primer Transferability

Chinese jujube (Ziziphus jujuba), an economically important species in the Rhamnaceae family, is a popular fruit tree in Asia. Here, we surveyed and characterized simple sequence repeats (SSRs) in the jujube genome. A total of 436,676 SSR loci were identified, with an average distance of 0.93 Kb between the loci. A large proportion of the SSRs included mononucleotide, dinucleotide and trinucleotide repeat motifs, which accounted for 64.87%, 24.40%, and 8.74% of all repeats, respectively. Among the mononucleotide repeats, A/T was the most common, whereas AT/TA was the most common dinucleotide repeat. A total of 30,565 primer pairs were successfully designed and screened using a series of criteria. Moreover, 725 of 1,000 randomly selected primer pairs were effective among 6 cultivars, and 511 of these primer pairs were polymorphic. Sequencing the amplicons of two SSRs across three jujube cultivars revealed variations in the repeats. The transferability of jujube SSR primers proved that 35/64 SSRs could be transferred across family boundary. Using jujube SSR primers, clustering analysis results from 15 species were highly consistent with the Angiosperm Phylogeny Group (APGIII) System. The genome-wide characterization of SSRs in Chinese jujube is very valuable for whole-genome characterization and marker-assisted selection in jujube breeding. In addition, the transferability of jujube SSR primers could provide a solid foundation for their further utilization.     

SSR-based linkage map with new markers using an intraspecific population of common wheat

Simple sequence repeats (SSRs) are valuable molecular markers in many plant species. In common wheat (Triticum aestivum L.), which is characteristic of its large genomes and alloploidy, SSRs are one of the most useful markers. To increase SSR marker sources and construct an SSR-based linkage map of appropriate density, we tried to develop new SSR markers from SSR-enriched genomic libraries and the public database. SSRs having (GA)n and (GT)n motifs were isolated from enriched libraries, and di- and tri-nucleotide repeats were mined from expressed sequence tags (ESTs) and DNA sequences of Triticum species in the public database. Of the 1,147 primer pairs designed, 842 primers gave accurate amplification products, and 478 primers showed polymorphism among the nine wheat lines examined. Using a doubled haploid (DH) population from an intraspecific cross between Kitamoe and Münstertaler (KM), we constructed an SSR-based linkage map that consisted of 464 loci: 185 loci from genomic libraries, 65 loci from the sequence database including ESTs, 213 loci from the SSR markers already reported, and 1 locus of morphological marker. Although newly developed SSR loci were distributed throughout all chromosomes, clustering of them around putative centromeric regions was found on several chromosomes. The total length of the KM map spanned 3,441 cM and corresponded to approximately 86% genome coverage. The KM map comprised of 23 linkage groups because two gaps of over 50 cM distance remained on chromosome 6A. This is a first report of SSR-based linkage map using single intraspecific population of common wheat. This mapping result suggests that it becomes possible to construct linkage maps with sufficient genome coverage using only SSR markers without RFLP markers, even in an intraspecific population of common wheat. Moreover, the new SSR markers will contribute to the enrichment of molecular marker resources in common wheat.     

Identifying Novel Polymorphic Microsatellites from Cultivated Flax (Linum usitatissimum L.) Following Data Mining

One of the major concerns in genetic characterization and breeding of cultivated flax is the lack of informative microsatellite markers (SSRs). In this regard, the development of SSRs using molecular methods might be time-consuming, laborious, and expensive. On the other hand, using bioinformatics to mine sequences in public databases enables a cost-effective discovery of SSRs. A total of 3,242 Linum usitatissimum genomic sequences were surveyed for the identification of SSRs. Among them, 118 non-redundant sequences containing repeats were selected for designing primers. The most abundant motifs were tri- (72.4%) and dinudeotide (16.6%), within which AGG/CCT and AG/CT were predominant. Primers were tested for polymorphism in 60 L. usitatissimum cultivars/accessions including 57 linseed and three fiber flax. Eighty-eight pairs gave amplifications within the expected size range while 60 pairs were found to be polymorphic. The mean number of alleles amplified per primer was 3.0 (range, 2–8; 180 total alleles). The mean polymorphism information content (PIC) value was 0.39 (range, 0.06–0.87), and the highest average PIC was observed in dinucleotide SSRs (0.41). The SSR data mining presented here demonstrates the usefulness of in silico development of microsatellites. These novel genomic SSR markers could be used in genetic diversity studies, the development of genetic linkage maps, quantitative trait loci mapping, association mapping, and marker-assisted selection.     

芦笋EST资源的SSR信息分析

为了在芦笋中开发EST-SSR功能性标记,对来源于NCBI公共数据库的8590条芦笋(AsparagusofficinalisL.)EST序列进行简单重复序列SSR搜索。剔除冗余序列,得到非冗余序列8377条。在非冗余序列中共挖掘出469个EST-SSR,平均相隔14.80kb出现1个SSR。在所有的重复基序中,二核苷酸重复基序的SSR所占比例最高40.51%(190/469),其次是三核苷酸34.97%(164/469),六核苷酸21.11%(99/469)。在所有基序里,CT/AG出现的频率最高有62次,占全部重复基序的13.22%(62/469)。选取含SSR的EST序列30条,并利用primer5软件设计引物,进行SSR位点的扩增,其中27对引物扩增产物,24对有较清晰可靠的目标扩增条带,占引物数的80%,且所检测出的芦笋等位基因数量较丰富,平均4.93个/对。这些EST-SSR标记的开发将有助于芦笋群体遗传多样性、遗传图谱构建、基因定位、分子标记和系谱分析等方面的研究。     

Pros and cons of using genomic SSRs and EST-SSRs for resolving phylogeny of the genus Gossypium

The genus Gossypium is comprised of 50 diverse cotton species representing eight different genomes (A through G and K), however, phylogenetic relationship using various DNA marker types such as RAPD and SSRs was determined on limited number of cotton species. In this report, we have demonstrated the application of genomic SSRs (gSSRs) and EST-SSRs, and after combining both the data sets, for resolving the phylogenies of 36 cotton species including seven races. Out of the 100 primer pairs surveyed (50 for gSSRs and 50 for EST-SSRs), 75 produced scorable amplification products in all species. Out of these, 73 were found to be polymorphic and amplified 135 alleles ranging from 1 to 5 alleles per SSR marker (average 2.87 alleles per marker). The gSSRs amplified higher number of alleles (72) compared to the EST-SSRs (63). In total 22 highly informative SSRs with PIC values ≥0.5 were identified. Genomic SSRs containing di-while EST-SSRs containing tri-nucleotide repeats exhibited high polymorphism compared to the other nucleotide repeats containing gSSRs/EST-SSRs. Number of tandem repeats and polymorphism were positively correlated. Neither the type of chromosome nor the location of the SSRs showed association with the polymorphism. Gossypium herbaceum var. africanum (Watt) Hutch. ex and Ghose and Gossypium robinsonii F. Muell. were found the most genetically diverse, while among races of Gossypium hirsutum L. “yucatanense” and G. hirsutum “punctatum” were found genetically diverse. Of the three data sets, clustering analysis based on EST-SSRs and combined data sets, revealed parallel results reported in earlier studies. This study further confirmed that Gossypium darwinii Watt has close relationship with Gossypium barbadense L. Moreover, Gossypium raimondii Ulbr. and G. herbaceum/Gossypium arboreum L. are close living relatives of the ancestor allotetraploid species. Our studies suggest that for resolving phylogenetic relationship among the various plant species EST-SSRs could be a better choice. This information can be instrumental in transferring novel alleles or loci from the wild species into the cultivated cotton species which would set a stage for cultivating genetically diverse cultivars—a way to achieve sustainable cotton production in changing climate.     

Development and characterization of simple sequence repeats for flowering dogwood (Cornus florida L.)

Abundant, codominant simple sequence repeats (SSRs) markers can be used for constructing genetic linkage maps and in marker-assisted breeding programs. Enrichment methods for SSR motifs were optimized with the ultimate aim of developing numerous loci in flowering dogwood (C. florida L.) genome. Small insert libraries using four motifs (GT, CT, TGG, and AAC) were constructed with C. florida ‘Cherokee Brave’ deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA). Colony polymerase chain reaction (PCR) of 2,208 selected clones with three primers we reported previously indicated that 47% or 1,034 of the clones harbored one of the four targeted SSR motifs. Sequencing the putative positive clones confirmed that nearly 99% (1,021 of 1,034) of them contained the desired motifs. Of the 871 unique SSR loci, 617 were dinucleotide repeats (70.8%), and 254 were trinucleotide or longer repeats (29.2%). In total, 379 SSR loci had perfect structure, 237 had interrupted, and 255 had compound structure. Primer pairs were designed from 351 unique sequences. The ability of the 351 SSR primer pairs to amplify specific loci was evaluated with genomic DNA of ‘Appalachian Spring’ and ‘Cherokee Brave’. Of these primers, 311 successfully amplified product(s) with ‘Cherokee Brave’ DNA, 21 produced weak or faint products, and 19 did not amplify any products. Additionally, 218 of the 311 primers pairs revealed polymorphisms between the two cultivars, and 20 out of 218 primers detected an average of 13.7 alleles from 38 selected Cornus species and hybrids. These SSR loci constitute a valuable resource of ideal markers for both genetic linkage mapping and gene tagging of flowering dogwood. Electronic supplementary material  The online version of this article (doi:) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.