Isolation and characterization of chloroplast microsatellite markers in the invasive tree species Robinia pseudoacacia L.

Robinia pseudoacacia is one of the most problematic invasive alien species in Japan. Information on genetic diversity and population structure is urgently required in order to generate effective management strategies. To assist such efforts we have identified five chloroplast microsatellite (cpSSR) markers for R. pseudoacacia by amplifying noncording regions of chloroplast DNA (cpDNA) using universal chloroplast primers. Among 857 individuals these cpSSR markers showed substantial polymorphism, with three to eight alleles per locus and gene diversity ranging from 0.387 to 0.713. These cpSSR makers will be useful for analyzing maternal lineages and population genetic structure of R. pseudo - acacia.