Development of microsatellite markers for horse-chestnut (Aesculus hippocastanum), their polymorphism in natural Greek populations, and cross-amplification in related species

New nuclear microsatellite markers (SSRs) were developed for Aesculus hippocastanum, a relict tree species from the Balkan Peninsula. The development of microsatellites was done using Illumina MiSeq PE300 platform. Out set 500 SSRs designed, subset 13 loci tested 290 individ­uals seven natural populations. Twelve species-specific polymorphic. number alleles per locus ranged 2 to 17 and expected heterozygosity 0.089 0.800 with mean value 0.484. population Kalampaka had lowest allelic richness (2.63) gene diversity in compari­son remaining STRUCTURE analysis confirmed isolation Mariolata southern edge range genetic similarity among populations Pindos Mts. Ad­ditionally, utility new 29 individuals nine other taxa tested. Eleven gave polymorphic products all species. For 24 individuals, high-quality product obtained each marker. Results specific future genetics studies.