DNA TYPING OF HOPS (HUMULUS-LUPULUS) THROUGH APPLICATION OF RAPD AND MICROSATELLITE MARKER SEQUENCES CONVERTED TO SEQUENCE-TAGGED SITES (STS)

Both random amplified polymorphic DNA and microsatellite repeat sequen ces were investigated as DNA markers for distinguishing hop cultivars. Microsatellite sequences converted to STS markers proved to be most s uccessful. The relative abundance of microsatellite repeat sequences i n the hop genome varied depending on the sequence class. Of the repeat types investigated the dinucleotide repeats (GA)(n) and (GT)(n) are t he most highly represented in the hop genome. Microsatellite repeat se quences in hops have been shown to be highly polymorphic and are very informative as STS molecular markers. A DNA typing system using sequen ce-tagged microsatellite site markers has been developed which will no t only be useful for hop cultivar identification but also marker assis ted breeding and quality control purposes.