ABSTRACT
Ethnobotany Genomics is a new emerging discipline which is synthesis of ethnobotany and genomics and based on the ancient knowledge of 602biodiversity variation among different cultures around the world and combines with modern genomic tools such as DNA barcoding has been applied to various organisms including plants in exploring the natural genetic variability and biodiversity found among various plant groups followed by high-throughput Automated Identification Technology (AIT) system. These are novel approaches that of late have revolutionized especially botanical research and technological innovations and are founded on the concept of ‘assemblage’ of biodiversity knowledge, traditional knowledge (TK) and scientific knowledge (SK) and employs modern genomics technology, as an important tool for identifying cryptic species, which are routinely recognized as ethnotaxa using the TK classification systems of local ethnic cultures in India and elsewhere. This paper reviews some well studied plant species belonging to Acacia, Biophytum, Cardiospermum, Tripogon and minor millets of Tamil Nadu, south India, India, that have been studied recently ethnogenomically and the variations among the cryptic taxa have been identified.
