Development of polymorphic microsatellites for Meloidogyne incognita, through screening predicted microsatellite loci based on genome sequence

Microsatellites are extensively distributed in the eukaryotic genome, and they are widely used for their high polymorphism and accessibility. The microsatellites in M. incognita, a worldwide agriculture pest, are inadequate for diversity research. A repertoire of 1620 microsatellites appeared appropriate to design primer as markers were identified based on the M. incognita genome. 120 loci were chosen as candidate, from which 88 microsatellites were characterized. Finally, we found 13 polymorphic microsatellites with 2 to 23 alleles in a survey of three nematode populations in China, while other positive loci were monomorphic. These new molecular markers afford to genetic diversity analysis in M. incognita population of poorly investigation. Furthermore, the predicted microsatellites have potential values for other plant parasitic nematodes.