RESUMEN
PREMISE OF THE STUDY: We developed microsatellite markers to investigate genetic diversity within and among populations of Capsella rubella and Capsella bursa-pastoris and between these two species. METHODS AND RESULTS: Fourteen polymorphic microsatellite loci were identified in the two species and one more polymorphic microsatellite locus only in C. rubella. Samples from different European localities were genotyped. Up to six alleles per locus were observed in C. rubella, and up to 22 alleles per locus in C. bursa-pastoris. Observed heterozygosities were low, indicating high selfing rates, especially in C. rubella. CONCLUSIONS: The results provide valuable information on genetic diversity for future studies of population genetics in C. rubella and C. bursa-pastoris.