Summary
Ancient DNA has received much attention since the mid-1980s, when the first
sequence of an extinct animal species was recovered from a museum specimen.
Since then, the majority of ancient DNA studies have focused predominantly on
animal species, while studies in plant palaeogenetics have been rather limited, with
the notable exception of cultivated species found in archaeological sites. Here, we
outline the recent developments in the analysis of plant ancient DNA. We emphasize
the trend from species identification to population-level investigation and highlight
the potential and the difficulties in this field, related to DNA preservation and to risks
of contamination. Further efforts towards the analysis of ancient DNA from the
abundant store of fossil plant remains should provide new research opportunities in
palaeoecology and phylogeography. In particular, intraspecific variation should be
considered not only in cultivated plants but also in wild taxa if palaeogenetics is to
become a fully emancipated field of plant research.
New Phytologist
(2005)
166
: 409–418
©
New Phytologist
(2005)
doi
: 10.1111/j.1469-8137.2005.01360.x