Designing robust DNA barcode libraries for metabarcoding of freshwater plants by integrating herbarium collections and contemporary floristic inventories

Aquatic environmental DNA (eDNA) studies have considerably taken off during the last 10 years, promptly establishing eDNA as a new approach to monitoring ecological status of European surface waters. On one hand due numerous biological methods based on aquatic species, other development group-specific primers that allowed discrimination between species or at least genera. Understandably, rapid achievements were made for animal groups include small number (fish, amphibians) whereas it is still in plants, complexity obtaining universal barcode applicable latter. Nonetheless, research plant barcoding and metabarcoding making significant progress, mainly expanding detection freshwater ecosystems. With multi-barcode mind, we are preparing reference library our study area, Northern Vosges Regional Natural Park. Drawing from this experience supported by current publications, focus strong connection floristic inventories, local libraries, herbaria. Prior knowledge distribution abundant genetic data key increasing through (Cordier et al. 2020). We ought standardise practice before plants can cover large river basins span time. Following consensus combination barcodes kingdom, most recurrent ones plastid trn L, mat K, rbc L regions nrDNA internal transcribed spacers (ITS) although likely emerge further research. To date, selection seems be utmost importance since they offer different properties question. Seminal efforts focused species-specific assays tailor-made primers. These demonstrated reliability used species. Today, three common invaders, Elodea canadensis , nutalli Hydrilla verticillata now their own aiming identify earliest invasions (Gantz 2018). contrary, “universal” primers, such those White (1990) within ITS, prove useful where many differing families involved (Coghlan Despite fast-moving eDNA, libraries lack hindering progress applying surveys metabarcoding. Such rely heavily building which extremely time consuming require important taxonomic encumbered polyphyly groups.