We have developed thirty new microsatellite markers in potato by screening genomic libraries and ESTs. Genomic libraries of potato cultivar Kufri Bahar were screened for sequences containing microsatellite motifs GA, GT, ACA, ATC, GAA, TAA and GATA. Using flanking sequences, PCR primers were designed for microsatellites identified from genomic libraries and ESTs. Sixteen new primer pairs from genomic libraries and fourteen from ESTs along with seven previously published primer pairs amplified PCR products in the selected genotypes comprising of 65 Solanum tuberosum lines and 14 other species of the potato gene pool. Neighbor-joining tree based on genetic distance matrix developed using microsatellite markers successfully distinguished all these genotypes in the expected size range. Seventeen microsatellites could also be cross-amplified in at least one of the five members of solanaceae, namely tomato, eggplant, pepper, petunia and tobacco. The new microsatellite markers obtained in this study will be useful in various genetic and taxonomic studies in potato and related genomes.
Keywords: Microsatellite markers; cross-amplification; genetic diversity; neighbor-joining tree.