Development and characterization of microsatellite markers for Vriesea simplex (Bromeliaceae) and cross-amplification in other species of Bromeliaceae

• Ten polymorphic microsatellite loci were developed and tested in Vriesea simplex.
• The number of alleles ranged from 2 to 16 per locus.
• Transferability of 10 loci was positive in ten Bromeliaceae species.
• Ten polymorphic loci showed high levels of polymorphism.
• The loci will be used for studying of reproductive barriers among sympatric species.

Ten polymorphic microsatellite loci were isolated and characterized for Vriesea simplex epiphytic and endemic species from the Brazilian Atlantic Rainforest. The number of alleles per locus ranged from 2 to 16. The observed and expected heterozygosity ranged from 0.000 to 0.414 and 0.068 to 0.795, respectively. All loci departed significantly from Hardy–Weinberg equilibrium. Linkage disequilibrium was not detected in any pair of loci. Transferability of 10 loci was positive across ten other Bromeliaceae species. The loci will be used for studying population genetic structure, mating system variation, and the origin and maintenance of reproductive barriers to gene exchange among sympatric Vriesea species.