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A definitive method for distinguishing cultivated onion from its weedy mimic, Asphodelus fistulosus , at multiple developmental stages
Author(s) -
Ughade B R,
Khilare V C,
Sangale D M,
Korhale G A,
Ingle P,
Tathe A E,
Patil R,
Khedkar G D
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
weed research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.693
H-Index - 74
eISSN - 1365-3180
pISSN - 0043-1737
DOI - 10.1111/wre.12337
Subject(s) - allium , biology , weed , dna barcoding , crop , identification (biology) , chloroplast dna , botany , agronomy , gene , chloroplast , evolutionary biology , biochemistry
Summary The onion, Allium cepa, is an important vegetable crop around the world. Globally, India ranks second in onion production, but yields are often much lower than in many other onion producing countries. This study reports on one major contributing factor to low onion yields in India: the presence of a weedy mimic that is morphologically similar to onion until the onset of flowering. We used morphological and molecular methods to identify this mimic as Asphodelus fistulosus , an exotic weed not previously reported in India. Our study indicated that molecular markers derived from the rbcL and/or matK chloroplast genes in a DNA barcoding approach allow accurate identification of this weed using any tissue and even at early developmental stages. Our results also showed that visual examination of seed lots coupled with DNA barcoding analysis of samples of 5–10 individual seeds can be used to confirm identification. The ability to easily identify contaminating material before and during cultivation can allow farmers to minimise production losses and prevent further spreading of this weed.