Isolation and characterization of microsatellite loci in Rehmannia glutinosa (Scrophulariaceae), a medicinal herb.
OBJECTIVE
Rehmannia glutinosa (Scrophulariaceae) is used in traditional Chinese medicine. Microsatellite primers were developed and characterized for this species to evaluate its genetic diversity and population genetic structure.


RESULTS
Sixteen microsatellite loci were isolated from R. glutinosa using an enriched genomic library, and these markers were characterized in two wild populations of this species. The number of alleles per locus ranged from two to 20. A high genetic diversity was observed in two populations, with average observed heterozygosity of 0.812 and 0.794, and average expected heterozygosity of 0.802 and 0.814, respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
Rehmannia glutinosa is an important medicinal resource. The genetic markers described in our study will be useful for future population genetic studies and molecular breeding programs on this species.
College of Life Sciences, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450002, People's Republic of China.
Zhenbin
Z
Jiao
College of Plant Protection, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450002, People's Republic of China.
Yueqin
Y
Cheng
College of Plant Protection, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450002, People's Republic of China ; School of Agricultural, Forest, and Environmental Science, Clemson University, Clemson, South Carolina 29631 USA.
Hongwei
H
Wang
College of Plant Protection, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450002, People's Republic of China.
Caiyan
C
Lei
School of Agricultural, Forest, and Environmental Science, Clemson University, Clemson, South Carolina 29631 USA.
G Geoff
GG
Wang
College of Plant Protection, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450002, People's Republic of China.
Linjiang
L
Han
Rehmannia glutinosa; Scrophulariaceae; genetic diversity; microsatellite