ICYMI: New DNA Test Now Available for Palmer Amaranth
- On February 23, 2017
As a follow up to the 2017 National Native Seed Conference last week in Washington, D.C., ASTA is continuing to communicate with industry and government stakeholders about a new DNA test now available to detect palmer amaranth in seed.
Developed by the California Department of Food and Agriculture and Eurofins BioDiagnostics, with support from the Minnesota Department of Agriculture Plant Protection Division Seed Program, the independently validated DNA sequencing method differentiates palmer amaranth from other amaranth and weed species. While still available on a limited basis, the Minnesota Department of Agriculture Seed Unit recently announced it will accept the test for labeling purposes, as palmer amaranth has been declared a prohibited noxious weed in the state. Palmer amaranth is also designated a noxious weed in Ohio. In addition to the DNA test, seed producers may also use a growout method from Illinois Crop Improvement Association to evaluate whether weed seeds are palmer amaranth.
Testing seed for weeds and providing those results to customers are one of many steps taken by seed producers to ensure quality of their products. Click here for best management practices for native seed production. For more information, including a list of members supplying native seed, visit our website.
