Development and characterization of microsatellite markers from the yellow passion fruit (Passiflora edulis f. flavicarpa)

Here we described the development of the first set of Passiflora microsatellite loci isolated from an enriched genomic library. A sample of 43 individuals from 12 accessions of the yellow passion fruit was used to characterize those loci, which revealed up to 20 alleles per locus. Two loci were monomorphic. The observed (HO) and expected (HE) heterozygosities were very similar, as expected for a self-incompatible species. Allelic diversity (HT) was 0.444. This set of markers will permit genetic structure analyses of cultivated and wild populations of Passiflora, and contribute for integrating genetic maps based on dominant markers, as they can provide bridge alleles.