Identification of Plant Fragments by Analyzing the Plastid rpl16–rpl14 Linker Sequences

Abstract

An identification method for testing contamination in products was assessed using various vegetables and fruits (70 types in total). DNA was extracted from plant fragments which are 1 to several millimeters long and the plastid rpl16–rpl14 linker sequence (approximately 550 base pairs) was amplified by PCR. The DNA nucleotide sequence was determined, and homology and SNP (single nucleotide polymorphism) analyses were carried out. Consequently, the test plants were difficult to distinguish between closely related species, but could be divided into 38 groups at the genus level or the species level. Although problems such as the accuracy of discrimination among some closely related plants and DNA stability under an acidic condition remain to be resolved, this method is considered to be expected to identify plant fragments mixed in products or raw materials.