Isolation and characterization of simple sequence repeat loci in Miscanthus floridulus and their potential use as markers in related species

Twelve polymorphic simple sequence repeat (SSR) loci were isolated and confirmed in Miscanthus floridulus using the FIASCO (fast isolation of AFLP sequences containing repeats) protocol. Alleles of each locus were characterized in four populations of M. floridulus collected in the Liangzi lake area of Wuhan, China. The heterozygosity of the analyzed markers varied from 0.351 to 0.855, with the observed alleles at each locus ranging from 3 to 12 (with an average of 7.8). Cross-species polymorphisms were examined in five other species, including Miscanthus sinensis, Miscanthus sacchariflorus, Miscanthus lutarioriparius, Miscanthus x giganteus and Narenga porphyrocoma. Among the 12 tested SSR markers, all were successfully amplified in M. sinensis, 11 were amplified in M. sacchariflorus, M. lutarioriparius and M. x giganteus, and 7 were amplified in N. porphyrocoma.

► Twelve polymorphic SSR loci were isolated and confirmed in Miscanthus floridulus.
► Cross-species polymorphisms were examined in five additional related species.
► Three alleles were found in single individuals of M. x giganteus.
► Multi-alleles were found in M. sacchariforus and M. lutarioriparius individuals.