Development and Characterisation of Novel Microsatellite (SSR) Markers in Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.)

Abstract

Tomatoes are one of the most significant vegetable crops grown worldwide due to their nutritional worth and economic relevance. Continuous genetic progress necessitates the use of dependable molecular techniques to measure genetic diversity and aid breeding efforts. Microsatellites, also known as simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers, are PCR-based, highly polymorphic, co-dominant markers that are frequently employed in plant genetic studies. The current work produced and characterised new SSR markers in tomato utilising a variety of farmed and wild accessions. Genomic DNA was extracted using a modified CTAB technique, and SSR loci were discovered by genome screening and primer design. The proposed markers generated unambiguous and consistent amplification patterns while revealing considerable allelic diversity between genotypes. These SSR markers are useful tools for genetic diversity studies, cultivar identification, and marker-assisted selection in tomato breeding efforts.