The RAPD technique was found to provide reliable genetic markers in ba
rley. A linkage study of 23 RAPDs, 28 RFLPs, and 29 gene loci was cond
ucted on 72 chromosome-doubled haploid progeny lines from a barley cro
ss. The resulting linkage map covered 680 cM, about half of the barley
genome. RAPD markers were distributed throughout the map, but a highe
r than expected frequency of tightly linked RAPDs was observed. Severa
l cases of skewed segregation ratios were observed, but the RAPD marke
rs segregated in ratios similar to their linked loci, confirming that
they were reliably scored. In separate crosses, two amplified RAPD pro
ducts, generated by different primers, were shown to reside in corresp
onding chromosomal positions. The RAPD markers seem a realistic altern
ative to RFLP markers in linkage analysis of barley.