Isolation, characterization and cross-amplification of polymorphic microsatellite loci in Laelia speciosa (Orchidaceae).

Laelia speciosa is an endangered epiphytic orchid endemic to central Mexico. Here, we report on the development of 14 perfect and imperfect microsatellite repeat loci for this species. Numbers of alleles ranged from two to 16 and levels of observed heterozygosities among the 14 loci ranged from 0.28 to 1.00 across two widely divergent populations. All loci were also tested for cross-amplification in four other Laelia species and other selected genera of the subtribe Laeliinae.