A quantitative assay for Amaranthus palmeri identification

Pest Manag Sci. 2017 Nov;73(11):2221-2224. doi: 10.1002/ps.4632. Epub 2017 Aug 7.

Abstract

Background: Amaranthus palmeri recently has been brought into the Midwestern USA as a contaminant in Conservation Reserve Program seeding mixes. Rapid species screening is required to mitigate the risk of continued species movement.

Results: Markers were developed for A. palmeri-specific nucleotide polymorphisms in the internal transcribed spacer of the ribosomal coding region. A quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) assay successfully identified A. palmeri from single-plant samples, simulated mixed-plant samples and seed mixtures.

Conclusion: A qPCR assay for distinguishing A. palmeri from 12 other Amaranthus spp. was developed and validated. The assay can consistently detect a single A. palmeri seed when present in a pool of 100 total Amaranthus spp. seeds. © 2017 Society of Chemical Industry.

Keywords: Amaranthus palmeri; Conservation Reserve Program; qPCR; species identification.

Publication types

  • Validation Study

MeSH terms

  • Amaranthus / classification*
  • Amaranthus / genetics
  • DNA, Plant / analysis*
  • DNA, Ribosomal Spacer / analysis*
  • Genetic Markers
  • Polymerase Chain Reaction / methods*
  • Polymorphism, Genetic*
  • Seeds / chemistry
  • Seeds / classification

Substances

  • DNA, Plant
  • DNA, Ribosomal Spacer
  • Genetic Markers