©FUNPEC-RP www.funpecrp.com.br Genetics and Molecular Research 7 (4): 1186-1192 (2008) Transferability of SSR markers from related Uredinales species to the coffee rust Hemileia vastatrix M. Cristancho and C. Escobar Plant Pathology Department, National Coffee Research Centre, CENICAFE (Colombia National Center for Coffee Research), Plan Alto, Chinchiná-Caldas, Colombia Corresponding author: M. Cristancho E-mail: marco.cristancho@cafedecolombia.com Genet. Mol. Res. 7 (4): 1186-1192 (2008) Received July 10, 2008 Accepted August 27, 2008 Published October 28, 2008 AbSTRACT. The aim of the present research was to test the transferability of simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers developed in two Uredinales species to Hemileia vastatrix, coffee rust. The development of efficient techniques for the identification of H. vastatrix isolates is imperative, given the continuous development of new races. The transferability of 25 SSR markers developed in the related Uredinales species Puccinia coronata f. sp lolli and Melampsora linii to H. vastatrix was tested. A low level of transferability of SSRs was detected, and only 4 potential markers that can be used to fingerprint the coffee rust races were identified. Key words: Coffee rust; Simple sequence repeats