Isolation and characterization of polymorphic microsatellites for assessment of genetic variation of hops (Humulus lupulus L.)

Hop (Humulus lupulus L.) cultivars are vegetatively propagated and it is difficult to differentiate them during the process of propagation. Fingerprinting with molecular markers based on DNA could be a useful means of identifying different cultivars. Simple sequence repeats, or microsatellite markers, are the most suitable marker for genetic fingerprinting because they are multi-allelic and co-dominant. For this purpose, we have developed primers for 10 new polymorphic microsatellite loci that are suitable for genetic fingerprinting in hop.