Development and Characterization of Microsatellite Markers for the Endangered Amazonian Tree Aniba rosaeodora (Lauraceae)

Premise of the study: Microsatellite loci were isolated and characterized for Brazilian rosewood (Aniba rosaeodora), an endangered neotropical hardwood tree, to investigate population and conservation genetics of this highly valuable nontimber forest resource. Methods and Results: We used an enriched genomic library method to isolate and characterize 11 nuclear microsatellite loci for A. rosaeodora, which exhibited an average of 9.6 and 8.7 alleles per locus in two populations from central Amazonia. Mean observed and expected heterozygosities over the 11 loci were 0.604 and 0.687, and 0.807 and 0.828, respectively, in the two populations. Conclusions: The polymorphic microsatellite loci developed for A. rosaeodora showed highly informative content and can be used as a powerful tool in genetic diversity and population structure, gene flow, and mating system studies for conservation purposes.