Development and characterization of SSR markers in Chinese jujube (Ziziphus jujuba Mill.) and its related species

In order to study the extensively genetic diversities of more than 700 cultivars of Chinese jujube, it is necessary to utilize various informative DNA markers. SSR markers are highly polymorphic, co-dominant, locus-specific markers widely used in genetic studies, but less used in Chinese jujube because of no specific primers available. In this study, we used the approach of selectively amplified microsatellite (SAM) to develop SSR markers for Chinese jujube and its related species. Three cultivars (Dongzao, Dalilongzao and Jinsixiaozao) were selected to perform the approach of SAM with CT repeats. There were totally 25 primers obtained, of which we selected 16 primers available to detect the polymorphism in populations of 24 Chinese jujube cultivars, two wild jujube varieties and two Indian jujube cultivars. Based on these primers, genetic relationships of the 28 samples were constructed in a dendrogram according to the UPGMA cluster analysis. The samples were clustered into three main groups, including Chinese jujube, wild jujube and Indian jujube as expected. The 16 sequence-specific SSR primers could efficiently distinguish all the 24 cultivars of Chinese jujube, except for two cultivars, Jinsixiaozao and its ‘stoneless’ mutant, Wuhexiaozao. As a result, SAM was a very efficient method in targeted developing sequence-specific SSR primers in Chinese jujube. Furthermore, SAMs could also be used as high polymorphic molecular markers independently. The further study would focus on developing other oligonucleotide repeat types and applying more SSRs available in the genetic research of Chinese jujube.