Improving DNA isolation from honey for the botanical origin identification

• Type: Article in International Scientific Journal
• Date: 2015

Authors

Sonia Soares (Author) Other; Joana S Amaral (Author) Other; Maria Beatriz P P Oliveira (Author) FFUP; Isabel Mafra (Author) Other

Journal

Title: Food Control

Vol. 48

Pages: 130-136

ISSN: 0956-7135

Publisher: Elsevier

Indexing

ISI Web of Knowledge - 22 Citations

Scopus - 41 Citations

Scientific classification

FOS: Agrarian Sciences > Other Agrarian Sciences

Other information

Authenticus ID: P-009-WHQ

DOI: 10.1016/j.foodcont.2014.02.035

Abstract (EN): Honey is a natural product highly consumed due its known association with health benefits. Monofloral honeys are perceived as better quality products, being the most appreciated by consumers, thus attaining higher market values. Therefore efficient tools are needed as alternatives to the classical microscopic analysis presently used for the botanical origin identification of honey. In the present work, the use of DNA-based methods for the botanical species identification of honey is proposed. For this purpose, five DNA extraction methods (the kits NucleoSpin Plant (methods A and B) and DNeasy Plant Mini Kit, and the in-house CTAB-based and Wizard methods) combined with three different sample pre-treatments were applied to four honey samples (3 monofloral honeys of Calluna vulgaris, Lavandula spp. and Eucalyptus spp. and one multifloral honey). The 15 DNA extraction protocols were compared in terms of DNA integrity, yield and purity, as well as capacity of amplification targeting universal and adh1 specific genes of C vulgaris. The results demonstrated the superior efficacy of the Wizard method in terms of DNA quality and amplification capacity, when combined with the sample preparation treatment with a mechanical disruption step of pollen to improve DNA yield. Although with considerable lower DNA yields, the CTAB and DNeasy methods were also successful because both were able to clearly amplify heather DNA from the monofloral heather honey.

Language: English

Type (Professor's evaluation): Scientific

No. of pages: 7