Microsatellite Analysis
All SSR primers generated amplicons in the 31 micropropagated plants and mother plant. Allele peaks were observed
in the same size range as reported by Risterucci et al. [12]. Of the 17 SSRs tested, primers mPgCIR04,
mPgCIR09 and mPgCIR16 generated two peaks indicating heterozygosity at these loci (Table 2). Of a total of
544 amplification profiles (32 samples × 17 primer pairs) scored in the study, 448 (82.4%) were homozygous
while 96 (17.6%) were heterozygous. Comparison of the micropropagated plants to the mother plant showed the
presence of the same allele for 16 of the 17 loci tested. However, primer mPgCIR07 generated two alleles
among the 31 micropropagated plants. At this locus, six micropropagated plants had an allele that was 1 bp
smaller (152 bp) than the parental genotype (153 bp) (Figure 2). The UPGMA dendrogram displayed differences
between the micropropagated plants and the mother plant (Figure 3). Of these six plants with the smaller allele,
three (P27, P28, and P30) exhibited mutations that affected the phenotype as manifested by anthocyanin
pigmentation of the leaves.