Final consensus on a DNA 'barcode' that could rapidly identify plant species should be reached in the next two months.

Botanists have for years debated which genetic sequences would be most suitable for such a barcode, which could be used to inventory biodiversity or monitor plant shipments (see Nature 451, 616; 2008).

David Schindel, executive secretary of the Consortium for the Barcode of Life, says that the consortium should be able to reach a decision quickly now that its plant working group has come to what the group calls "community agreement" on the matter.

The working group's recommendation, published this week (CBOL Plant Working Group Proc. Natl Acad. Sci. USA doi:10.1073/pnas.0905845106; 2009), should also help barcode-related projects obtain funding.