Abstract

Red currant (Ribes rubrum) germplasm was screened for molecular polymorphism using anchored microsatellite primers in polymerase chain reactions (PCRs). Thirteen named cultivars (including red and white currants) and one accession each of R. petraeum, R. multiflorum and R. sativum [R. rubrum] were used. Eighty markers were detected using only three primers and 16 red currant genotypes were fingerprinted using these markers. The genetic relatedness of these genotypes, as determined by the anchored microsatellite markers, and the implications for red currant breeding programmes are examined.