Characterisation and PCR multiplexing of novel highly variable tetranucleotide Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar L.) microsatellites

Seven novel and highly variable tetranucleotide microsatellite markers, and conditions for multiplexing and simultaneous genotyping six of these in a single run, are described for Atlantic salmon. These provide a highly informative and cost-effective set of molecular markers for genetic studies on cultured and wild populations of the species. The primers sets showed cross-species amplification of appropriately sized amplified products in a number of other salmonid species and suggests the primer sets may have wider application.