The transcriptome sequencing approach RNA-seq represents a powerful tool for transcriptional analysis and development of SSR markers for nonmodel crop. In the Perilla crop, analysis of the distribution of different repeat motifs showed that dinucleotide repeats were the most abundant (62.0%) type, followed by trinucleotide repeats (35.3%), with the two together comprising 97.3% of the eSSR repeats. In this study, we developed 39 new SSR primer sets by the transcriptome sequencing approach RNA-sEq. A total of 130 alleles were detected segregating in nine Perilla accessions with an average of 3.3 alleles per locus, ranging from 125 to 360 bp. The number of alleles per locus ranged from two to six. To detect SSR markers associated with morphological characteristics of Perilla crop, a total of 40 individuals from the F 2 population of Perilla were selected for association analysis based on their leaf-and plant-related characteristics. In an association analysis of 37 SSR markers and 9 leaf-and plantrelated traits in the 40 individuals of the F 2 population, we identi ed 12 and 11 SSR markers associated with leafrelated traits and plant-related traits, respectively. Therefore, the new Perilla SSR primers described in this study could be helpful in identifying genetic diversity and genetic mapping, designating important genes/QTLs for Perilla crop breeding programs, and allowing Perilla breeders to improve leaf and plant quality through markerassisted selection (MAS) breeding programs.

The transcriptome sequencing approach RNA-seq represents a powerful tool for transcriptional analysis and development of SSR markers for nonmodel crop. In the Perilla crop, analysis of the distribution of different repeat motifs showed that dinucleotide repeats were the most abundant (62.0%) type, followed by trinucleotide repeats (35.3%), with the two together comprising 97.3% of the eSSR repeats. In this study, we developed 39 new SSR primer sets by the transcriptome sequencing approach RNA-sEq. A total of 130 alleles were detected segregating in nine Perilla accessions with an average of 3.3 alleles per locus, ranging from 125 to 360 bp. The number of alleles per locus ranged from two to six. To detect SSR markers associated with morphological characteristics of Perilla crop, a total of 40 individuals from the F2 population of Perilla were selected for association analysis based on their leaf- and plant-related characteristics. In an association analysis of 37 SSR markers and 9 leaf- and plant-related traits in the 40 individuals of the F2 population, we identified 12 and 11 SSR markers associated with leaf-related traits and plant-related traits, respectively. Therefore, the new Perilla SSR primers described in this study could be helpful in identifying genetic diversity and genetic mapping, designating important genes/QTLs for Perilla crop breeding programs, and allowing Perilla breeders to improve leaf and plant quality through marker-assisted selection (MAS) breeding programs.