DNA barcoding in plants for species identification: Insights from single locus markers to chloroplast genome sequencing

초록

DNA barcoding has become an essential molecular approach in plant systematics and biodiversity research, providing a standardized framework for species identification and phylogenetic inferences. This review synthesizes the fundamental concepts and recent advancements in plant DNA barcoding, with a focus on widely used barcode markers, including rbcL, matK, ITS, and trnH-psbA and evaluates the relative strength and limitations across different taxonomic contexts. We outline the standard workflow from DNA extraction to sequence analysis and taxonomic assignment, highlighting its applications in species delimitation, ecological monitoring, conservation biology, and authentication of economically important plant taxa. Despite significant progress, several limitations persist, such as insufficient sequence divergence in some plant groups, incomplete reference libraries, and complications arising from hybridization and polyploidy. We also discuss emerging methodologies, such as multi-locus barcoding, high-throughput sequencing, and environmental DNA analysis, which are expanding the scope and resolution of plant DNA barcoding methods. The emerging methodologies may help in improving the identification accuracy, but also introduce practical constraints related to data processing and standardization. This review also aims to provide a foundational perspective for researchers seeking to integrate DNA barcoding into ecological and evolutionary studies of plant diversity by critically evaluating the current challenges and future prospects.

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