Development and characterization of 20 novel polymorphic STS markers in Vicia faba (fava bean). 
Sequence tagged site (STS) primers were developed for Vicia faba, based on amplified bands by ISSR primers.  The usefulness of these STS markers was validated for size polymorphism among fava bean accessions.  Based on the sequences derived from intersimple sequence repeat (ISSR) amplification, 66 sequence tagged site (STS) primer pairs were developed and screened, and 20 of them were polymorphic.  The polymorphism of these markers was identified in 32 fava bean germplasm from different global geographical locations.  Alleles (N(a)) per locus numbered 2 to 4, and expected heterozygosity (H(E)) per locus ranged from 0.000 to 0.714.  There was significant variation in H(E) among germplasm from different regions for individual primers.  These novel polymorphic STS markers may be useful and convenient for further studies of population genetics, cultivar identification, and evolution in fava bean.