# DNA Barcoding as a Plant Identification Method
## 1 Introduction
Notably, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) encourages the use of DNA-based technology for herbal products' quality assessment, among other innovative analytical techniques [16]. DNA barcoding is an effective approach used in food authentication and traceability, for instance, in processed foods and nutritional supplements [17,18]. Additionally, it can be used to identify local or autochthonous varieties adding value to the crops or products, at the same time promoting the consumption of locally grown vegetables, fruits, and aromatic plants [18]. DNA barcoding is a valuable tool in forensic investigations, facilitating the connection between biological specimens and crime scenes. The analysis of both human and non-human DNA has gained prominence in crime investigations. Particularly, the examination of plant evidence discovered at crime scenes, such as in cases involving the transportation of a corpse, tracking the path of a suspect, or identifying narcotic plants, can play a pivotal role in resolving criminal cases. The application of DNA barcoding in forensic botany enhances the accuracy and efficiency of investigations, contributing significantly to the field of forensic science. [3,19]. Finally, a major application of DNA barcoding is related with environmental and ecological genomic studies [3]. A prerequisite for effective DNA barcoding is the establishment of a database of the sequences of DNA barcodes. DNA barcoding has been successfuly used in identifying species from many taxa [13,20]; GenBank and the Barcode of Life Datasystem (BOLD) provide a repository for DNA sequences. In the BOLD database, projects can be managed, files traced, herbarium specimen scanned, and pictures maintained along with DNA sequences. Other well-established databases are FISHBOL and the Chinese herbal medicine DNA barcode identification system. Finally, a DNA barcode research center has been established in Canada (CCDB) [18; 21; 22; 23]. Although DNA barcoding has been used extensively in a wide range of plant identifications, there are instances where it is not the optimal method, particularly in complex materials such as wild potatoes. According to [PERSON] (2009) [24], the internal non-transcribed spacer of nuclear ribosomal DNA (ITS) and the plastid markers trnH-psbA intergenic spacer and matK are unable to provide species-specific markers. This issue is commonly observed in wild potatoes across various plant groups. The separation of these species cannot be accomplished using barcoding, since this technique relies on distinct separable species, which may not have been studied extensively among different geographical regions, or the number of deposited sequences in databases may be insufficient [24]. In recent years, however, techniques utilizing species-specific primers have been developed, offering the capability to differentiate targeted species from others. As described by [PERSON] et al., 2019 [25], the development of species-specific primers successfully differentiated mustard from rapeseed and wheat. This advancement offers a potential way around the drawbacks of conventional barcoding techniques when dealing with complex plant materials [25]. The aim of the present review study was to summarize the work has been carried out on DNA barcoding in plants and discuss several different approaches that have been used.