Identification and Validation of Microsatellite Markers for <i>Acer rubrum</i>

Abstract Red maple (Acer rubrum) is one of the most commonly cultivated tree species and is often used in urban settings, as it is resilient, fast-growing, and tolerant of a wide variety of conditions. This study sought to understand the genetic variation between A. rubrum cultivars using microsatellites. Since A. rubrum is an autopolyploid that is often either hexaploid or octoploid, but can also be tetraploid, this species presents unique challenges for understanding population genetics, as many statistical tests assume diploidy. For these reasons, we cross referenced and verified genetic relationships with information regarding the development of the cultivars. We tested a total of 34 microsatellite loci that had been previously developed for closely related Acer spp. until we were able to validate 12 microsatellite loci that were consistently present in our A. rubrum samples, which included both wild-type and cultivated trees. Following validation, we then looked at the genetic relationships between 16 cultivars. These cultivars included some of the most popularly available, including Armstrong, Franks Jr.™ (Red-pointe), Franks Red™ (Red Sunset), and October Glory. We found that our genetic results from the microsatellite analysis were consistent with the histories of the developments of the various cultivars and therefore have confidence in using these microsatellite markers for analysis of A. rubrum .