Development and characterization of EST‐SSR markers in Paeonia suffruticosa (Paeoniaceae)

• Premise of the study: Paeonia suffruticosa is one of the most famous flowering species in China. Ten simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers were developed and characterized from the expressed sequence tag (EST) database of tree peonies to be applied in genetic diversity studies. • Methods and Results: A total of 10 novel EST‐SSR loci were developed and characterized when tested on two populations of 45 tree peony individuals from China. The number of alleles per locus ranged from one to four and the expected heterozygosity ranged from 0.2087 to 0.6581. Select loci also amplified successfully in three other Paeonia species (P. ostii, P. rockii, P. jishanensis). • Conclusions: These markers will facilitate analysis of genetic diversity, population differentiation, and marker‐assisted breeding of Paeoniaceae.