Mitchella repens (Rubiaceae) is a distylous, understory plant found in Worcester County that exhibits two genetically distinct floral morphs known as pins (long-styled) and thrums (short-styled). These morphological differences are controlled by a cluster of tightly linked genes collectively referred to as the S-locus. S-locus genes are not present in pin plants and are hemizygous in thrums. Although S-locus genes have been characterized in several other distylous species, the identity and structure of the S-locus in M. repens remains unknown. The identity, number and order of the S-locus genes varies between species, however there appears to be one core gene in common, CYP, a cytochrome p450. The goal of this study is to identify candidate genes associated with the S-locus in M. repens. Primers reported in the literature for known S-locus genes from Gelsemium elegans (Rubiaceae) are currently being tested. Amplicons of the correct size have been obtained and will be sequenced to confirm gene identity. Additionally, predicted S-locus gene sequences will be aligned to identify conserved regions, and degenerate primers will be designed based on consensus sequences. These primers will then be tested to evaluate their ability to amplify potential S-locus–associated genes in M. repens. This study aims to provide foundational molecular evidence for identifying S-locus genes in partridgeberry and contribute to understanding the genetic mechanisms underlying distyly in this species.