Diagnostic markers for the identification of the tree species Shorea leprosula Miq. and S. parvifolia Dyer and the geographic origin of S. leprosula Miq.

Accurate identification of closely related dipterocarps and reliable tracing of timber to its source are central challenges for biodiversity conservation and legal supply chains in Southeast Asia. Focusing on two morphologically similar and commercially important species, Shorea leprosula (Miq.) and S. parvifolia Dyer, this study develops and validates diagnostic genetic markers for species identification and tests assignment tools to infer the geographic origin of S. leprosula. The work combines population-genetic theory with practical laboratory workflows to show how nuclear and plastid markers, together with robust reference sampling, can separate look-alike taxa and delineate provenance at management-relevant scales.

The approach is deliberately translational. Marker discovery is paired with clear criteria for diagnostic performance, including cross-validation against independent samples and an assessment of common error sources in forensic timber work, such as degraded DNA from processed wood or uneven reference coverage. Analytical steps such as clustering, assignment tests, and concordance checks between marker systems are explained with a focus on reproducibility in enforcement or certification contexts. The study also outlines sampling and curation standards for building and maintaining a reference database so that origin inference remains defensible over time.

Key contributions include a method set for distinguishing S. leprosula from S. parvifolia using genetic evidence, a provenance framework for S. leprosula that indicates where origin assignment is informative and where additional reference material is needed, and practical guidance for laboratories that plan to implement these tests on real-world specimens. The result is a coherent pathway from field sampling to decision support that can inform conservation planning, timber verification, and sustainable forest management.

The book is intended for readers in forest genetics, conservation biology, wood forensics, and supply-chain due diligence. It provides both the conceptual rationale and the procedural detail needed to move from species-level questions to geographic origin inference in one of Southeast Asia’s most economically significant tree groups.