Microsatellite markers useful throughout the genus Dianthus

Using repeats found in sequences from Dianthus species present in the EMBL database, primers for STMS (sequence-tagged microsatellite site) analysis w ere developed and tested. Five loci were polymorphic and amplified products of sufficient quality in nearly all of the 26 Dianthus species tested, exc ept MS-DINGSTA, which amplified in only one-third of the species. Loci MS-D INMADSBOX andMS-DCDIA30 produced allele series that were mostly two nucleot ides (the repeat unit) apart.MS-DCAMCRBSY and MS-DINCARACC also amplified r egular series of alleles, but more than two fragments per individual were d etected in a number of species. Both loci code for a member of the ACC synt hase gene family. The observation that the loci amplified across a wide ran ge of Dianthus species may imply that the different species within the genu s are relatively closely related. Alternatively, it may indicate that the r egions selected for primer design (some of which are in coding regions) are well conserved. These microsatellites will be useful for the measurement o f genetic diversity in natural populations of Dianthus species and the iden tification of carnation varieties.