Characterization of novel polymorphic microsatellite markers in Dactylorhiza hatagirea: a critically endangered orchid species from western Himalayas

Dactylorhiza hatagirea (D. Don) Soo, family Orchidaceae is an endangered medicinal herb inhabiting higher altitudes of western Himalayas. Due to reckless exploitation for its roots, it is of high conservation concern. In the present study fifteen microsatellites were developed and characterized across twenty collections of D. hatagirea. The total numbers of alleles amplified by these microsatellites were 64 with an average of 4.2 alleles per marker. Average observed and expected heterozygosity values for polymorphic loci were 0.623 and 0.631, respectively. Mean polymorphism information content value of the polymorphic markers was 0.532. Of the fourteen polymorphic microsatellites, 7 deviated from Hardy–Weinberg equilibrium. Microsatellites reported here can be utilized to address questions related to genetic characteristics in this species.