Characterisation of nuclear microsatellite markers for <i>Fraxinus excelsior</i> L. and their transferability to six related species

Abstract Common ash ( Fraxinus excelsior L.) is an economically and ecologically important tree species in Europe acutely threatened by dieback. Here, we present a new set of Simple Sequence Repeat markers for F. six related based on published silico designed primers. Forty SSR markers, mainly from genic regions, were tested amplification polymorphism characterized two populations Germany. Transferability polymorphic to angustifolia , ornus quadrangulata pennsylvanica americana biltmoreana ) was also assessed. Eighteen predominantly regions including three closely linked candidate genes dieback, successfully amplified which between 10 17 transferable one the species. High genetic diversity found N = 7.8 6.9, H e 0.71 0.68), while low differentiation F ST 0.025) observed. The newly characterised extend available other future studies structure populations.