Abstract
PREMISE OF THE STUDY: Microsatellite markers were developed using hoop-petticoat daffodils (Narcissus sect. Bulbocodii; Amaryllidaceae) to aid in the taxonomic revision of the section, and to further evaluate their broad applicability for daffodil cultivar identification. METHODS AND RESULTS: Three hundred fifty-one primer pairs were developed using a commercial service. Nineteen polymorphic and repeatable markers were developed by screening 67 of these primer pairs. Of these, 11 chosen markers were used to screen 317 samples; the number of alleles per locus ranged from four to 21, and the observed heterozygosity ranged from 0.101 to 0.297. There were null genotypes in some samples for six of the markers. All the microsatellites were transferable to other Narcissus sections. CONCLUSIONS: The results indicate that these new markers have sufficient potential variation to be used for taxonomic revision of the genus and to distinguish many commercial daffodil cultivars.