Genetic Food Diagnostics - Approaches and Limitations of Species Level Diagnostics in Flowering Plants

A vast variety of exotic plants used in traditional medicine and cuisine await introduction into the European market. Systematic information and genetic approaches are evaluated to establish reliable authentication of species contained in respective products. Limitations of methods (e.g. sequence vs. PCR diagnostic) and the most commonly used species concept are discussed. Using the genus Dracocephalum an in depth study of genetic authentication from the genus to the species level is presented.