Development of simple sequence repeats (SSRs) in olive tree (Olea europaeaL.)

We report the development of microsatellites or simple sequence repeats (SS Rs) in the olive tree (Olea europaea L.). Forty three positive clones obtai ned by the screening of a GA-enriched genomic library were sequenced and pr imers were designed for 13 microsatellite loci. Five primer pairs amplified polymorphic products of the expected size range. SSR polymorphism was expl ored in a set of 46 olive cultivars. A total of 26 alleles were detected fo r the five loci. Heterozygosity ranged from 0.46 to 0.71. Ninety one per ce nt of the cultivars had unique multilocus genotypes. Microsatellite segrega tion was studied in a complex population from a cross between the commercia l cultivars 'Leccino' and 'Dolce Agogia'.