dna-barcoding
DNA barcoding is a molecular technique that identifies plant species by comparing short, standardized DNA sequences from specific genes against a reference database, similar to how barcode scanners work. For plant science, this method is crucial for accurately distinguishing between morphologically similar species and verifying plant identity in cases where visual characteristics are insufficient. It has become an essential tool for botanical taxonomy, collection management, and biodiversity research.
open_in_new WikipediaEurope PMC · 2026-06-17
Scientists developed a DNA-based method to identify multiple thrips pest species at once from sticky traps, achieving detection down to 0.1% abundance and identifying up to nine species from a single sample — even from traps stored up to two years.
The DNA metabarcoding method detected individual thrips species at a relative abundance as low as 0.1% within mixed insect samples.
Up to nine thrips species were simultaneously identified from a single sticky trap, including samples up to two years old.
A curated reference database of 70 specimens revealed errors in public DNA databases, correcting misidentified thrips sequences that would otherwise produce wrong pest identifications.
