Development and characterization of microsatellite loci for the primrose Primula vulgaris and successful cross-amplification in the congeneric P. elatior and P. veris

The perennial herb Primula vulgaris (Primulaceae) faces severe fragmentation of its natural forest habitat in the northern border of its distribution due to intensive agricultural practices and increased urbanisation. In Belgium and northern France, P. vulgaris populations show dramatic declines that could lead to local extinctions. Here we describe 12 novel microsatellite loci obtained by 454-pyrosequencing of a microsatellite-enriched library. Number of alleles per polymorphic locus varied between 2 and 6, and observed heterozygosity ranged from 0.16 to 0.73. Furthermore, sets of 8 loci successfully cross-amplified in the congeneric P. elatior and P. veris. These markers will be of great value for genetic diversity and conservation studies. © 2014 Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht.Peer Reviewe