A computer algorithm is presented which allows selection of a subset of multiplex markers based on the minimisation of an optimality criterion fora genetic linkage map. It could be applied for choosing a subset of primers (e.g. RAPD, IMA or AFLP), each of which provides several unevenly spaced genetic markers. The goal is to achieve a saturated map of evenly spaced markers, using as few primers as possible to minimise cost and labour. Minimising the average map distance between markers is trivial, but simply leads to selection of those primers which provide the greatest number of markers. However, minimising the standard deviation of interval length ensures that weight is given both to the number of markers and to the evenness of their distribution on the linkage map. This criterion was found empirically to give a result fairly close to the optimum. A stepwise-like selection procedure is therefore implemented, which stops when the optimality criterion does not decrease any more. An example is given of a molecular map of perennial ryegrass with 463 markers obtained from 17 AFLP primers. It is demonstrated that this can be safely reduced to a 175 marker map with only 6 primers. Genetic diversity studies may also benefit from using such a subset of less-redundant markers in genetic distance estimation.
