Development and characterization of microsatellite markers for Derris elliptica (Fabaceae), an insecticide-producing plant

• Microsatellite markers were developed in D. elliptica for the first time and there were totally 37 primers obtained.
• These SSR markers were successfully used for genetic diversity analysis.
• High transferability in genus Derris was detected in these SSR primers.
• These markers should be used for genetic diversity studies and breeding programs in D. elliptica.

Derris elliptica (Fabaceae) is one of the most important sources of the insecticide rotenone. The present study was aimed at developing microsatellite markers and evaluating their potential for use in germplasm genetics. There were 37 microsatellite markers specific for D. elliptica developed from an AC-enriched genomic library using the Fast Isolation by AFLP of Sequences Containing repeats (FIASCO) method. All markers were polymorphic amongst 16 accessions of the cultivated D. elliptica and four accessions of wild relatives, providing evidence for cross-species transferability within the genus Derris. These markers amplified a total of 159 alleles with a range of 2–8 and an average of 4.3 per locus. The polymorphic information content (PIC) value across all loci was 0.53 with a range of 0.05–0.75. There was similar genetic variability within cultivated and wild accessions (both with average expected heterozygosity of 0.54). Cluster analysis clearly distinguished all wild relatives from each other and from the cultivated genotypes. These markers should be used for genetic diversity studies and breeding programs in D. elliptica.