Development and characterization of 43 microsatellite markers for the critically endangered primrose Primula reinii using MiSeq sequencing

Primula reinii (Primulaceae), a perennial herb belonging to the Primula section Reinii, occurs on wet, shaded rocky cliffs in the mountains of Japan. This threatened species comprises four varieties; these plants are very localized and rare in the wild. In this study, 43 microsatellite markers were developed using MiSeq sequencing to facilitate conservation genetics of these critically endangered primroses. We developed novel microsatellite markers for three varieties of P. reinii, and tested its polymorphism and genetic diversity using natural populations. These novel markers displayed relatively high polymorphism; the number of alleles and expected heterozygosities ranged from 2 to 6 (mean = 3.2) and 0.13 to 0.82 (mean = 0.45), respectively. All loci were in Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium. These microsatellite markers will be powerful tools to assess P. reinii genetic diversity and develop effective conservation and management strategies.