Environmental DNA as an emerging tool in botanical research

Area of Science:

• Ecology
• Molecular Biology
• Botany

Background:

• Environmental DNA (eDNA) has emerged as a powerful tool for biodiversity assessment over the last 25 years.
• Recent advancements have unlocked the potential of eDNA applications within botanical systems.

Purpose of the Study:

• To synthesize the current state of eDNA applications in botanical systems.
• To explore eDNA utilization in aquatic, ancient, contemporary sediment, and airborne environments.
• To identify opportunities for advancing eDNA tools for plant research.

Main Methods:

• Review and synthesis of existing literature on eDNA in botanical contexts.
• Focus on both single-species and community metabarcoding approaches.
• Analysis of factors influencing airborne eDNA data interpretation.

Main Results:

• eDNA is increasingly applied to monitor plant biodiversity, interaction networks, and past ecological patterns.
• Applications span aquatic, ancient, sediment, and airborne environments.
• Factors like abiotic/biotic conditions, taxonomy, primers, and scale affect airborne eDNA results.

Conclusions:

• eDNA offers significant potential for botanical research, from species detection to community analysis.
• Further development is needed to enhance the efficacy, utility, and cost-effectiveness of plant eDNA tools.
• Increased adoption of eDNA analyses will advance botanical system understanding.