Isolation and characterization of microsatellites loci in the lemon (Citrus limon)

This study reports the isolation and characterization of seven polymorphic microsatellite loci in Citrus. The loci were isolated from two libraries constructed from genomic DNA nonenriched for TC and AC repeats and enriched for AC repeats. These markers yielded four to nine alleles per locus (mean 6.14) in a survey of 32 Citrus cultivars. Average observed heterozygosity ranged from 0.43 to 0.72. The levels of polymorphism found in this study suggest that these microsatellite loci can become an important tool for genetic studies in Citrus.