A Synopsis of Technical Notes on the Standards for Plant DNA Barcoding

Abstract

DNA barcoding is a technique using one or a few standardized DNA regions from different genomes for rapid species identification,which is used in the field of taxonomy,ecological surveys and assessment of biodiversity.Because of the plant natural particularity and the DNA barcodes used for plants differing from animals,the standards provided by BOLD which was initially dssigned for animals are not totally compatible in plants DNA barcoding research.Thus,we synthesize and customize a synopsis of technical notes and standards with reference of the BOLD criteria and experience of plant DNA barcoding projects,especial for the researchers with particular interest in plants DNA barcoding in China.Ten aspects related to plants DNA barcoding are covered:1) sampling strategy for a plant DNA barcoding study,2) collecting standards for vouches and associate information,3) collection standards for specimen-referenced images,4) collecting standards for DNA material,5) standards for drying and preserving DNA material,6) quality control and preservation procedures for extracted total genomic DNA,7) recommended plant barcodes and universal primers,8) procedures for PCR amplification and sequencing of the DNA barcodes,9) naming,editing and submission for DNA barcoding files,and 10) procedures and methods for the analysis of DNA barcoding data.