An effective method for interspecific introgression identification based on SNPs.

Natural hybrids are usually detected after observation of intermediate morphological traits in specimens collected in sympatric areas of the parental species. However, the plasticity of external morphology may hinder introgressive hybrids, demanding an effective tool other than morphology to identify them, such as standardized molecular markers. In this paper we present a reliable method based on identification of single nucleotide polymorphisms of mitochondrial and nuclear genes used as a DNA barcode to indicate parental genome origin and detect hybrids. We also discuss the potential of this methodology in recognizing introgression (backcrossing) and bidirectional hybridization compared to other techniques. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]