Seventeen novel microsatellite markers for a valuable medicinal plant Bletilla striata and cross-amplification in B. ochracea
Bletilla striata, a valuable medicinal plant, has become rare and endangered due to limited natural reproduction, increased utilization and habitat destruction. Here, 17 polymorphic microsatellite markers were developed and characterized for B. striata. Per locus 3–16 alleles were detected with an average of 8.2. The polymorphic information content (PIC) varied from 0.146 to 0.895 with a mean of 0.607, and 14 loci had PIC >0.5. The observed and expected heterozygosities ranged from 0.050 to 1.000 and from 0.050 to 0.901, respectively. Cross-amplification indicated 15 loci could be amplified in the congeneric species B. ochracea and 14 loci were polymorphic with a mean PIC of 0.512. These novel markers will facilitate the investigation of population genetics for B. striata and B. ochracea, which may also contribute to their management and conservation.