Biological bar code for determining the geographical origin of fruits using 28S rDNA fingerprinting of fungal communities by PCR-DGGE: an application to Shea tree fruits

Abstract

Objectives Shea tree is a multi‐purpose tree daily used by rural African communities. Economic importance of Shea tree fruits has been rising and achieving a great success in African, American and European markets. Shea butter is used mainly in chocolate industry, cosmetic or pharmacological products. Traceability is now one of the great concerns of the customers and the lawyers. In view of the difficulties of installing these documentary systems in developing country particularly the countries of sub‐Saharan Africa, the new strategies of traceability emerge. Methods Molecular technique using 28S rDNA profiles generated by polymerase chain reaction denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis was used to detect the variation in fungal community structures of Shea tree fruit from Senegal, Mali and Cameroon. Results 28S rDNA profiles were analysed by multi‐variate analysis, distinct microbial communities were detected. Band profiles of Shea tree fruit fungi from different countries were specific for each location and could be used as a bar code to discriminate the origin of fruits. Conclusion We propose the polymerase chain reaction denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis method as the fingerprinting of Shea tree fruits using 28S rDNA of fungi that provides the fruits with a unique bar code and make it possible to trace back the Shea tree fruit to their original locations. EL SHEIKHA AF, BOUVET J‐M, MONTET D (2011). Biological bar code for determining the geographical origin of fruits using 28S rDNA fingerprinting of fungal communities by PCR‐DGGE: an application to Shea tree fruits. Quality Assurance and Safety of Crops & Foods, 3, 40–47

Discriminating organic and conventional foods by analysis of their microbial ecology: An application on fruits

“…The presence of various microorganisms depends on the external environment of the food matrices (soil ecology, spoilage, insects, diseases), but also microorganisms brought by human activity (Sodeko, Izuagbe, & Ukhun, 1987). Previous works showed that there is a link between the geographical origin of food and the structure of the food microbial flora such as wild and farmed fishes (Doan, Ngoc, Dijoux, Loiseau, & Montet, 2008;Tatsadjieu et al, 2010), fruits (El Sheikha et al, 2009;El Sheikha, Bouvet, & Montet, 2011) and, more recently, on marine salts (Dufossé, Donadio, Valla, Meile, & Montet, 2013). This was performed using a molecular biology method based on the extraction, PCR amplification and DGGE separation of microbial DNA (PCR-DGGE).…”

Study of the microbial discrimination of fruits by PCR-DGGE: Application to the determination of the geographical origin of Physalis fruits from Colombia, Egypt, Uganda and Madagascar

“…Some teams already proposed this method to analyze the yeast communities in fruits and fruit products (Fleet, 2007; Prakitchaiwattanaa, Fleet, & Heard, 2004;Tournasa, Heeresb, & Burgessb, 2006) and just two publications published by our team described the linkage between the yeast communities and the geographical origin of fruits (El Sheikha, 2010b;El Sheikha, Condur et al, 2009). But we think that this is the first publication introduces a unique "biological bar code" using 26S rDNA fingerprinting of yeasts to discriminate Physalis fruits from four different countries.…”

New Strategies for Tracing Foodstuffs: Biological Barcodes Utilising PCR-DGGE

“…The acquired band patterns for the microbial communities of different species of fruits and different harvesting locations were compared and analysed statistically to determine the fruit geographical origin. [30][31][32][33] Figure 2 shows the DGGE pattern of the DNA of yeast communities of Shea tree fruits from two different regions of Mali, while figure 3 illustrates the cluster analysis of the DGGE gel patterns, which explains that the DGGE pattern of the DNA of yeast communities of Shea tree fruits was strongly linked to the microbial environment of the fruit. 46 …”

“…Identification of the species can be achieved by purifying and sequencing the bands in the DGGE profile. 1,12 The most commonly employed target for PCR amplification prior to DGGE is the ribosomal DNA. This is because ribosomal DNA is considered the most conserved gene in all cells inclusive of variable regions.…”

“…In case of doubt or fraud, it is necessary to find a precise and fast analytical technique to assign geographical origin. 1 The most popular analytical methods used to ensure the determination of origin are bar codes and stable isotopes. 2 Stable isotopes are currently used for reference by the EU to determine to origin of wine.…”