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ARS Home » Pacific West Area » Logan, Utah » Forage and Range Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #291431
Title: Using DNA markers to distinguish among species and populations in seed lots

Author
item Bushman, Shaun
item Larson, Steven
item Mott, Ivan

Submitted to: Meeting Abstract
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 4/10/2013
Publication Date: 4/10/2013
Citation: Bushman, B.S., Larson, S.R., Mott, I.W. 2013. Using DNA markers to distinguish among species and populations in seed lots. Native Seed Conference, Santa Fe, NM. Meeting Abstract.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Sometimes visual measurements are insufficient to distinguish seed contaminants in a seed lot, or native vs. introduced species of taxa that have overlapping morphological characters. Often visual measurements are insufficient to distinguish among different populations of a species. In each of these instances molecular markers can be used with great efficacy to distinguish between targeted plants. Molecular fingerpringing can target and utilize markers from chloroplast regions, expressed nuclear genes, or random genomic fragments. When developing markers for identity uses in a species, obtaining a set of unique markers is affected by the breeding system of plants and the use of appropriate checks or known standards. Chloroplast DNA markers have been used to differentiate native from exotic mannagrasses (Glyceria spp.) and proved that exotic and invasive species were inadvertently being used for revegetation of vernal pools. Markers from expressed genes have been used in numerous species to differentiate between cultivars and populations for identification purposes. We will show how molecular markers have been crucial in some plant identification situations, how they can be successfully used, and what their pragmatic limitations are.