Botanical authentication of lavender (Lavandula spp.) honey by a novel DNA-barcoding approach coupled to high resolution melting analysis

• Type: Article in International Scientific Journal
• Date: 2018

Authors

Soares, S (Author) Other; Grazina, L (Author) Other; Joana Costa (Author) FFUP; Amaral, JS (Author) Other; Beatriz B P P Oliveira (Author) FFUP; Mafra, I (Author) Other

Journal

Title: Food Control

Vol. 86

Pages: 367-373

ISSN: 0956-7135

Publisher: Elsevier

Indexing

ISI Web of Knowledge - 5 Citations

Scopus - 13 Citations

Other information

Authenticus ID: P-00N-KKX

DOI: 10.1016/j.foodcont.2017.11.046

Abstract (EN): Monofloral honeys (such as, lavender honey) are highly appreciated by the consumers due to their flavour, taste and properties. However, since they are considered prime products, they are often targets of adulteration. This work exploits DNA barcoding combined with high resolution melting (HRM) analysis to establish the botanical origin of honey, using lavender honey as a case study. The plastidial matK gene was targeted as a candidate barcode for Lavandula species identification. The method allowed differentiating the species in three clusters with confidence levels >99%, being the results well correlated with the sequencing analysis. It was successfully applied to identify the botanical origin of several lavender honeys, which were grouped in the cluster of the most common species in Portugal (L. stoechas subsp., L penduculata and L. viridis). The proposed method represents a simple, specific and cost-effective tool to authenticate the botanical origin of honey.

Language: English

Type (Professor's evaluation): Scientific

No. of pages: 7