Characterization of functional SSR markers in Prosopis alba and their transferability across Prosopis species.

Aim of study : The aim of the study was to characterize functional microsatellite markers in Prosopis alba and examine the transferability to species from the Prosopis genus. Area of the study : samples were obtained from natural populations of Argentina. Material and Methods : Eleven SSR functional markers related to stress and metabolism were amplified in a sample of 152 genotypes from P. alba , P. denudans , P. hassleri P. chilensis , P. flexuosa , and interspecific hybrids. Main results: In P. alba , the PIC average value was 0.36; and 6 out of the 11 primers showed high values of polymorphism ranging from 0.40 to 0.71. The cross-species transferability was high with high percentages of polymorphic loci. Research highlights : The SSR markers developed in P.alba were easily transferred to other Prosopis species which did not have functional markers. Keywords : genetic variation; functional markers; microsatellites; prosopis. Abbreviations: PIC: Polymorphic Information Content; PCR: Polymerase Chain Reaction; SSR: Simple Sequence Repeat.