Development and characterization of microsatellite markers for sour jujube (Ziziphus jujubavar.spinosa)

Sour jujube (Ziziphus jujuba var. spinosa) is an important wild fruit tree and traditional Chinese medicine. Ten microsatellite markers of sour jujube were developed using a modified dual-suppression-PCR technique. Polymorphism of each locus was detected in 40 individuals from three natural populations. The number of alleles per locus ranged from 2 to 10, with an average of 6.4. The expected and observed heterozygosities ranged from 0.420 to 0.832 and 0.161 to 0.975, respectively.The markers will be useful for future genetic diversity and population genetic studies, and may help to establish strategies for conservation of this species.