Development and characterization of nuclear microsatellite markers to reveal the neutral demographic background of flower color polymorphism in Geranium thunbergii (Geraniaceae)

Abstract

Nuclear microsatellite markers were developed for Geranium thunbergii, an herbaceous plant characterized by petal color polymorphism. Utilizing RNA sequencing data obtained by next-generation sequencing techniques, we developed and characterized 19 polymorphic microsatellite markers with two to 12 alleles in the nuclear genome. These markers will be used to reveal the genetic structure and demographic history of G. thunbergii in the Japanese archipelago, which will elucidate the genetic background of flower color polymorphism among populations.

Keywords: Geranium thunbergii; flower color polymorphism; genetic diversity; microsatellite marker; population genetics.