Development of polymorphic microsatellite markers for the Eucalyptus leaf pathogen Mycosphaerella nubilosa

Mycosphaerella nubilosa is one of the most important Eucalyptus leaf pathogens, causing premature defoliation and stunting of growth. The aim of this study was to develop polymorphic microsatellite markers for M. nubilosa. Fifteen primer sets were developed and evaluated for polymorphism. Two primers were monomorphic, three primers did not amplify the desired region and 10 primer pairs were polymorphic. These microsatellite markers will be applied to population biology studies of M. nubilosa collections from several countries. These studies will promote an understanding of the genetics and the global movement of M. nubilosa that is severely limiting plantation development.