Genetic characterization of Liriodendron seed orchards with EST-SSR markers

Introduction Liriodendron tulipifera L., commonly known as yellow-poplar or tulip-poplar, is a wide-spread, fast-growing pioneering hardwood species of considerable economic value in the forests of eastern North America. Yellow-poplar is distributed predominantly east of the Mississippi River from the gulf coast to southern Canada (28° to 43° north latitude) [35]. According