New and Improved: Palmer Amaranth Testing Update

Eurofins BioDiagnostics Palmer Amaranth Testing Updates

The detection and identification of Palmer amaranth (Amaranthus palmeri) seed within a seed lot that contains Amaranthus spp. is of great importance to many seed producers and retailers as Palmer has been identified as a prohibited noxious weed in some states. Eurofins BioDiagnostics has revised our identification testing method to improve detection of the species and bring down the cost of the assay.

For identification, we are now offering a PCR test targeting a few SNPs specific to Palmer amaranth. This streamlined approach has allowed us to reduce the time required to complete the test and significantly lower the cost of the assay. 

To offer a cost-effective PCR test, seeds from one lot can be combined into a pool of up to 25 seeds.  Each pool will be reported as either positive or negative for Palmer Amaranth. This pooled seed test is a cost-effective option for testing larger numbers of seeds from an individual lot, and may allow for a greater assessment of seed lot contamination.

This new approach to identification testing for Palmer amaranth will provide many benefits to seed producers and end users. Larger numbers of samples can now be quickly and accurately evaluated by an industry leading seed testing laboratory with ISO/IEC 17025 accreditation and high testing capacity. We feel that affordable single seed analysis provides the customer with an accurate and quantitative measure of the amount of Palmer contamination present within their seed lot.

This webinar was originally recorded on March 23, 2018.