Transferability and genome specificity of a new set of microsatellite primers among Brassica species of the U triangle

We present a new set of 12 highly polymorphic simple sequence repeat primer sequences for use with Brassica species. These new primers, and four from A.K.S. SzewcMcFadden and colleagues, were tested in four Brassica species (B. rapa, B. napus, B. oleracea and B. nigra). Most primers successfully amplified products within all species and were polymorphic. Due to the risk of gene flow from GM oilseed rape to its wild relatives, hybrid formation in the Brassicaceae is of great interest. We identify six primer pairs as specific to the A, B or C genomes that could be used to identify such hybrids.