New microsatellite markers for Salvia officinalis (Lamiaceae) and cross-amplification in closely related species.

PREMISE OF THE STUDY Microsatellite primers were identified to study the genetic diversity, population genetic structure, and relationships of common sage and closely related species. METHODS AND RESULTS Nine novel polymorphic trinucleotide microsatellite loci were identified for Salvia officinalis. A total of 127 alleles were observed. The observed and expected heterozygosity values ranged from 0.375 to 0.880 and from 0.624 to 0.931, respectively. Nine new and 11 previously published microsatellite primers were tested for cross-amplification. The species with the most successful cross-amplification was S. fruticosa. CONCLUSIONS The nine new microsatellite markers will be useful in genetic studies of wild and cultivated populations of common sage and are potentially useful in genetic studies of closely related species.