Development, characterization, segregation, and mapping of microsatellite markers for European hazelnut (Corylus avellana L.) from enriched genomic libraries and usefulness in genetic diversity studies

86 new microsatellite loci were developed for European hazelnut (Corylus avellana L.) by screening two GA- and CA-enriched genomic libraries. The loci showed a high level of polymorphism in 50 accessions. The number of alleles per locus ranged from five to 21, with a mean of 10.55. Mean values for expected heterozygosity, observed heterozygosity, and polymorphism information content were high, averaging 0.76, 0.69, and 0.73, respectively. In a mapping population, loci segregated 1:1, 1:2:1, and 1:1:1:1. Segregation distortion and null alleles were observed at some loci. Eighty-one of the 86 loci were assigned to linkage groups. A neighbor-joining dendrogram reflected great diversity among the 50 accessions and showed clustering by geographic origin.