Isolation of 21 new polymorphic microsatellite loci in the phytopathogenic fungus Venturia inaequalis

Twenty-one new polymorphic microsatellite markers were isolated in the phytopathogenic fungus Venturia inaequalis, the causal agent of apple scab. An enrichment protocol was used to isolate microsatellite loci and the level of polymorphism was assessed on 44 European isolates. All loci were polymorphic with an average of 9.1 alleles per locus (range 2-24). Tests of cross-species amplifications suggest that at least some of these microsatellites could be used in different species, mainly Spilocaea pyracanthae and S. eriobotryae.