Identification and characterization of microsatellite loci in ash (Fraxinus excelsior L.) and their conservation in the olive family (Oleaceae)

Fraxinus excelsior (L.) is an anemophilous (wind-pollinated) deciduous tree, distributed throughout Europe and Asia Minor. Its wood is still favoured by European foresters, as indicated by improvement and plantation programmes. These programmes rely increasingly on identification tools such as molecular markers in order to reduce ambiguities and to identify accurately elite material to be propagated. To complete the few existing microsatellite loci (Brachet et al. 1999), this study reports the characterization of 10 new microsatellite markers in Fraxinus excelsior (L.) and shows their potential for further use in various species of the Oleaceae family, which contains the important forest genus Fraxinus as well as the olive genus Olea and many ornamentals.