Isolation and characterization of microsatellite loci from the orchid <i>Serapias vomeracea</i> (Orchidaceae) and cross‐priming to other <i>Serapias</i> species

Abstract

Abstract In this paper we describe the isolation and characterization of six polymorphic microsatellite loci from the orchid Serapias vomeracea . This species is widely distributed in the Mediterranean region. Microsatellite loci were isolated from an enriched library and primer pairs were designed for 18 loci. Primer pairs for six loci amplified well and were tested on samples from southern Italy. Levels of genetic variability detected at these six loci are high, with numbers of alleles per locus ranging from 3 to 6, and observed heterozygosity ( H O ) ranging from 0.35 to 0.86. All primer pairs tested amplified DNA from four other Serapias species, indicating that the primers are useful for population genetic studies throughout the genus.