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Recent contributions of molecular population genetic and phylogenetic studies to classic biological control of weeds

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Abstract

The use of molecular techniques in biological studies has rapidly grown and the tools have become more powerful, widely available, as well as cheaper and easier to implement. For classical biological control of weeds, molecular population genetics can uncover information about invasions that was recently unknowable but can be critical to improving control success, including clarifying taxonomy, hybridization and cryptic species, host plant evolutionary relationships with other plant species, and population structure and origin of invasions. This review provides recent examples of uses of molecular population genetics and phylogenetics that have improved our knowledge of target species, hoping to inspire and guide researchers as they begin planning a classical biological control of weeds program.

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  1. USDA ARS, 1500 North Central Avenue, Sidney, Montana, USA

    John Gaskin

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  1. John Gaskin
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Correspondence to John Gaskin.

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Handling Editior: Marc Schwarzländer

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Gaskin, J. Recent contributions of molecular population genetic and phylogenetic studies to classic biological control of weeds. BioControl (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10526-023-10230-5

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