title: Development and characterization of EST-SSR markers in Ostryopsis (Betulaceae).
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  A set of expressed sequence tag (EST) microsatellite markers were developed and characterized using next-generation sequencing technology for the Chinese genus Ostryopsis (Betulaceae). •
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 38 high-quality simple sequence repeat (SSR) primers were identified, of which 15 could be successfully amplified. Subsequently, we selected 80 individuals to represent the three species of the genus to evaluate the efficacy of these markers for examining genetic diversity of each species in the future. We found that the number of alleles per locus ranged from one to nine, with an average of 3.8. The expected heterozygosity and observed heterozygosity per locus varied from 0 to 0.829 and from 0 to 1, respectively, with their respective mean values as 0.483 and 0.416. •
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These EST-SSR markers will be useful for evaluating the range-wide genetic diversity of each species and examining genetic divergence and gene flow between the three species.
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Grassland Agro-Ecosystem, School of Life Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, People's Republic of China ; Key Laboratory for Bio-resources and Eco-environment, College of Life Sciences, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610064, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Bing-Bing
authors.initials: BB
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Biodiversity Conservation in Southwest China, State Forestry Administration, Southwest Forestry University, Kunming 650224, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Bin
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Tian
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Grassland Agro-Ecosystem, School of Life Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Hui
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ma
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Grassland Agro-Ecosystem, School of Life Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Zhi-Qiang
authors.initials: ZQ
authors.lastname: Lu
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Grassland Agro-Ecosystem, School of Life Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Qiang
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Qiu
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory for Bio-resources and Eco-environment, College of Life Sciences, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610064, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Kang-Shan
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Mao
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Grassland Agro-Ecosystem, School of Life Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Jian-Quan
authors.initials: JQ
authors.lastname: Liu
keywords: Betulaceae; EST-SSR marker; Ostryopsis; next-generation sequencing technology; ortholog genes