Universal PCR primers for identifying species of the genus Sanguisorba and other members of the family Rosaceae

Abstract

Seven primers for the amplification of non-coding regions of chloroplast DNA via the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) have been designed. In order to find out whether these primers were universal, we used them in an attempt to amplify DNA fragments from various plant species of Rosaceae. Primers worked for species of the genus Sanguisorba and some species of the family Rosaceae. The fact that they amplify chloroplast DNA non-coding regions over a wide taxonomic range means that these primers may be used to study the population biology and evolution of plants.