We characterized 35 single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) markers for the brown alga Fucus vesiculosus. Based on existing
Fucus Expressed Sequence Tag libraries for heat and desiccation-stressed tissue, SNPs were developed and confirmed by
re-sequencing cDNA from a diverse panel of individuals. SNP loci were genotyped using the SEQUENOM single base
extension iPLEXTM system for multiplex assays on the MassARRAY platform, which uses matrix-assisted laser desorption/
ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) to discriminate allele-specific products. The SNP markers
showed a wide range of variability among 16 populations from the south-west of the UK, northern Portugal and Morocco.
The analysis of the information provided by these markers will be useful for studying population structure, historical
demography and phylogeography of F. vesiculosus. They can also be used for the identification of genes and/or linked genomic
regions potentially subject to selection in response to abiotic stressors like temperature extremes and desiccation intensity that
vary across habitats and geographical range.Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologi
