Development and characterization of nine new microsatellite markers in Taraxacum (Asteraceae)

This study aims at developing and characterizing new microsatellite primer pairs in Taraxacum officinale auct. to produce polymorphic markers for genetical and evolutionary studies on apomixis in this sexual-apomictic complex. A total of 24 diploid plants were tested for allelic polymorphism and heterozygosity. Out of nine loci three deviated significantly from the HardyWeinberg equilibrium expectations, probably due to the presence of null-alleles. Successful cross-species amplification was obtained for all markers in 29 Taraxacum microspecies from five sections. [KEYWORDS: apomixis ; Asteraceae ; microsatellites ; microspecies ; Taraxacum]