Abstract
DNA barcoding is a new technique that uses short, standardized DNA sequences (400-800 bp) of an organism to determine its identity. Because this sequence has to be variable enough to identify individual species, but not too variable within the same species so that a clear threshold can be defined between intra- and inter-specific
diversities, it is very challenging to apply this technique to all species on the planet . A DNA barcode has been identified for animals, i.e. the mitochondrial gene cox1 , which shows strong abilities in identifying cryptic species, accelerating biodiversity inventories
and helping to identify species from degraded material (e.g. to control trade of threatened). For plants, the identification of a suitable DNA barcode is more problematic. Cho et al. showed that mitochondrial DNA evolves too slowly in plants to provide a region variable enough to discriminate between species. Then the quest for the
best suitable barcode started and is still ongoing.