Novel polymorphic nuclear microsatellite markers for Pinus sylvestris L.

Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) is one of the most widespread forest trees in the world, ranging from southern Mediterranean mountains to eastern Siberia. Ten polymorphic microsatellite loci were isolated from Scots pine cDNA sequences and were screened for variability inthree natural populations. High levels of genetic variability were observed with effective number of alleles per locus ranging from 1.0 to 4.6 and average expected heterozygosity per population of 0.79. With only two exceptions, Hardy-Weinberg expectations were confirmed. All loci were in linkage equilibrium and there was little evidence for confounding null alleles. These new markers will be used to resolve population structure and gene flow patterns in this major Eurasian forest tree.