Araucaria araucana (Mol.) K. Koch is one of the most important native species of Chile and Argentina, and also one of the most endangered. In this study, we report the development and characterization of a set of microsatellite markers in the species by means of the microsatellite-AFLP (M-AFLP) technique. A total of 25 M-AFLP derived bands, showing a typical microsatellite pattern, were selected and sequenced. Of these, 12 that contained microsatellite sequences, were used for primer extension. Six of the resulting SSR markers provided easily interpretable patterns and were used to investigate the level of genetic diversity in two populations of A. araucana. A total of 43 alleles were amplified. The mean overall loci of observed and expected heterozygosities for the Conguillio and Villa Araucaria populations were 0.322 and 0.443, respectively. The primers presented in this study may provide useful information for the establishment of a conservation strategy in the species.
