Adulterations in Basmati rice detected quantitatively by combined use of microsatellite and fragrance typing with High Resolution Melting (HRM) analysis.

The aim of this work was to setup a DNA based method coupled with High Resolution Melting (HRM) analysis for rice products traceability using five different microsatellite markers to genotyping Basmati and non-Basmati varieties. We also exploit the obtained information to detect the presence of Basmati varieties in commercial rice products. Additionally we used the 8bp deletion in badh2 gene in combination with HRM to both DNA-typing of the Basmati and non-Basmati varieties and to quantitate accurately adulteration of Basmati rice products with non-Basmati rice products. HRM proved to be a very sensitive tool to genotype rice varieties and detect admixtures as well as able to detect a ratio of 1:100 of non-fragrance in fragrance rice. In conclusion HRM analysis can be a higher resolution, cost effective, alternative method compared to other techniques that could be extended to quantify adulterations in rice varieties and commercial rice food products.