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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Poplarville, Mississippi » Southern Horticultural Research Unit » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #393105
Research Project: New Molecular and Genetic Tools to Select Trees and Plants Better Adapted to Changing Environmental Conditions in the Southeastern United States

Location: Southern Horticultural Research Unit

Title: Development and characterization of 20 genomic SSR markers for ornamental cultivars of weigela

Author
item HAMM, TRINITY - University Of Tennessee
item BOGGESS, SARAH - University Of Tennessee
item Sthapit Kandel, Jinita
item STATON, MARGARET - University Of Tennessee
item HUFF, MATTHEW - University Of Tennessee
item HADZIABDIC, DENITA - University Of Tennessee
item SHOEMAKER, DEWAYNE - University Of Tennessee
item Adamczyk, John
item NOWICKI, MARCIN - University Of Tennessee
item TRIGIANO, ROBERT - University Of Tennessee

Submitted to: Plants
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 5/27/2022
Publication Date: 5/29/2022
Citation: Hamm, T., Boggess, S., Sthapit Kandel, J., Staton, M., Huff, M., Hadziabdic, D., Shoemaker, D., Adamczyk Jr, J.J., Nowicki, M., Trigiano, R. 2022. Development and characterization of 20 genomic SSR markers for ornamental cultivars of weigela. Plants. 11(11):1444. https://doi.org/10.3390/plants11111444.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/plants11111444

Interpretive Summary: Weigela is an ornamental plant belonging to family Caprifoliaceae. It is a small genus that includes about 10 to 12 species. Weigela is popular for its flower and leaf colors, but currently there is only limited knowledge on its genetics and genetic diversity. Whole genome of Weigela cultivar Spilled Wine® was sequenced using Illumina MiSeq System. The sequence was used to develop 20 genomic simple sequence repeat (gSSR) markers, which were characterized on a collection of 18 Weigela cultivars. The gSSR markers identified 111 alleles and 36 private alleles in the collection of cultivars. A diagrammatic key was constructed using six of the gSSR markers that can be used to genetically identify cultivars. The gSSR markers presented in this study are well-dispersed throughout the genome and able to detect genetic variability. Genetic distances based on the gSSR markers indicated that the cultivars included in the study are very closely related. The 20 gSSR markers presented in this study can be used in future genetic studies involving other Weigela germplasm and possibly closely related taxa.

Technical Abstract: Weigela (Caprifoliaceae) is a popular ornamental genus, which includes species that have been hybridized to produce commercially available cultivars. Limited genetic resources currently exist for the genus. Whole-genome sequencing of Weigela Spilled Wine® was completed and 20 genomic simple sequence repeat (gSSR) markers were developed and characterized on a collection of 18 Weigela cultivars. The gSSR markers identified 111 alleles and 36 private alleles in the collection of cultivars. A diagrammatic key was constructed to identify cultivars using six of the gSSR markers. Genetic distances and the high cross-amplification frequency of the markers to related cultivars indicated that the included cultivars are very closely related. The gSSR markers presented in this study are well-dispersed throughout the genome and able to detect genetic variability. Therefore, the 20 gSSR markers presented in this study can be used in future genetic studies involving Weigela germplasm and possibly closely related taxa.