Characterization methods and fingerprinting of agronomical important crop species

Continued usage of morphological data to describe agronomical important genotypes indicates that those data retain popularity as descriptors of plant species. However, the need is arising for their more detailed description by laboratory-based biochemical and molecular methods. The standardization of those techniques has been achieved by ISTA and UPOV through DUS testing that is the basis of the system of protection of Plant Breeders Rights. Not only by morphological characterization but also by combining morphological, biochemical and molecular aspects in identification and description of agronomical important genotypes, it is possible to reveal their unique genetic profiles e.g. fingerprints. In this review we summarized the techniques that proved to be successfully applied in biochemical and molecular characterization of agronomical important genotypes. Obtaining their unique genetic profiles due to application of those methods, it is now possible to precisely characterize them with most certainty and reproducibility.