title: Development and characterization of SSR markers for Aster savatieri (Asteraceae).
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers were developed for Aster savatieri (Asteraceae) and the serpentine variety A. savatieri var. pygmaeus to re-evaluate their taxonomic status.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Using RNA-Seq data, 22 expressed sequence tag (EST)-SSR markers were developed. Polymorphisms were assessed in A. savatieri and in A. savatieri var. pygmaeus. The average number of alleles ranged from four to 15, and expected heterozygosity ranged from 0.417 to 0.870. Transferability was examined in six representative species of Japanese Aster and in Solidago virgaurea subsp. asiatica var. asiatica, a member of the tribe Astereae (Asteraceae); most of the loci were transferable to these examined species.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These markers will be useful for genetic studies of variation in A. savatieri and other Aster species that occur in Japan.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Plant Evolution and Biodiversity, Department of General Systems Studies, Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Meguro, Tokyo 153-0041, Japan.
authors.forename: Naoko
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Ishikawa
authors.affiliation: Graduate School of Human and Environmental Studies, Kyoto University, Yoshida-nihonmatsu-cho, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto 606-8501, Japan.
authors.forename: Shota
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sakaguchi
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Plant Evolution and Biodiversity, Department of General Systems Studies, Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Meguro, Tokyo 153-0041, Japan.
authors.forename: Motomi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ito
keywords: Aster; Asteraceae; EST-SSR; serpentine plant