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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Stoneville, Mississippi » Crop Production Systems Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #207364
Title: Preparation and Use of Voucher Specimens for Documenting Research in Weed Science

Author
item CARTER, RICHARD - VALDOSTA STATE UNIV
item Bryson, Charles
item DARBYSHIRE, STEPHEN - AGRL & AGRI-FOOD, CANADA

Submitted to: Weed Technology
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 5/30/2007
Publication Date: 1/10/2008
Citation: Carter, R., Bryson, C.T., Darbyshire, S.J. 2008. Preparation and Use of Voucher Specimens for Documenting Research in Weed Science. Weed Technology 21:1101-1108.

Interpretive Summary: Voucher specimens provide a permanent record for documenting living organisms. Methods of preparing, processing, storage, and shipment of voucher specimens are described for researchers in plant sciences. Ultimately, voucher specimens documenting identification, distribution, and inter-specific and intra-specific variation are important in all research disciplines to verify past, present, and future research. Vouchers are also extremely important to document dispersal, population shifts, herbicide resistance and tolerance, and genetic relationships of weeds.

Technical Abstract: Historically voucher specimens and herbarium collections have provided the basis for research in plant science. Available for study and verification by contemporary and future workers, voucher specimens are permanent records documenting identification, distribution, and interspecific and intraspecific variation of weed species. The importance of voucher specimens and herbarium collections in supporting research in weed science is discussed, and the collection, preparation, documentation, storage, and shipment of voucher specimens are detailed.