Development and characterization of microsatellite loci in the mistletoe Psittacanthus schiedeanus (Loranthaceae).

PREMISE OF THE STUDY: Microsatellite primers were developed for the parasitic Psittacanthus schiedeanus, a common mistletoe species on cloud forest-adapted tree hosts in Mesoamerica, to investigate intraspecific genetic patterns of diversity and genetic structure. • METHODS AND RESULTS: Using an enriched library, 10 polymorphic microsatellite loci were developed in P. schiedeanus. All loci consisted of dinucleotide repeats. Average alleles per locus were 12 (4-17), and a total of 120 alleles were recorded across 39 individuals from four populations in Mexico. Primers were tested in 11 additional species, but only amplified successfully in P. calyculatus and P. angustifolius. • CONCLUSIONS: The polymorphic loci described will be useful in studies of genetic diversity and genetic population differentiation in natural populations of these parasitic plants, and will provide valuable information to understand the importance of host distribution.