title: Potential use of DNA barcoding for the identification of tobacco seized from waterpipes.
abstract: DNA barcoding was adopted in our laboratory for the identification of tobacco (Nicotiana spp.) in moassel samples seized from "hookah bars". As recommended by the CBOL Plant Working Group, we used a 2-locus combination of rbcL and matK as the plant barcode. As previously reported rbcL routinely produced high quality bi-directional reads but had a lower discriminating power than matK. It was much more difficult obtaining high quality bi-directional reads with matK possibly because of poor sample quality. DNA barcoding successfully identified tobacco in over 60 commercial tobacco moassel products. On the other hand, negative results (no amplification) or the identification of non-tobacco species were obtained from herbal moassel products. Our study clearly demonstrates the practical utility of DNA barcoding beyond taxonomy.
authors.affiliation: Alcohol and Tobacco Section, Science and Engineering Directorate, Information, Science and Technology Branch, Canada Border Services Agency, Government of Canada, Ottawa, Ontario K2E 6T7, Canada. Cindy.Carrier@cbsa-asfc.gc.ca
authors.forename: Cindy
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Carrier
authors.forename: François
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Cholette
authors.forename: Camilo
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Quintero
authors.forename: Chris
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Fulcher
mesh_terms: D001483:Base Sequence; D058893:DNA Barcoding, Taxonomic; D017931:DNA Primers; D018744:DNA, Plant / Q000235:genetics*; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D014026:Nicotiana / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D017931:DNA Primers; D018744:DNA, Plant