Characterization of polymorphic microsatellite markers, isolated from Ginger (Zingiber officinale Rosc.).

The present study reports isolation and characterization of eight polymorphic microsatellite markers for Zingiber officinale Rosc. (Ginger). A total of 34 alleles were detected across the 20 accessions, with an average of 4.3 alleles per locus. Values for observed and expected heterozygosities ranged from 0 to 1.0 and from 0.23 to 0.67, respectively. The heterozygote deficits were observed at three loci. At the significance threshold (P < 0.05) of the eight loci, seven were found to have deviated from Hardy–Weinberg equilibrium, whereas significant linkage disequilibria were observed between 10 pairs of loci. Our data indicate the existence of moderate level of genetic diversity among the ginger accessions genotyped with eight markers.