Abstract:

A real-time PCR method was developed to indentify the ingredients of Salmoninae in foods. Specific primers
and probes were designed according to the conserved region of the growth hormone gene of Salmoninae. Results showed
that the developed method was highly specific for Salmoninae detection. The detection limits were 100 pg using five
species of Salmoninae as the templates. The relative detection limits were 0.01% (m/m) by mixing the fish of Salmo salar or
Salvelinus alpinus with maize, chicken or crucian. Standard deviations and relative standard deviations of Ct values for five
DNA concentrations were all in the acceptable range. Twenty-five commercial products labeled “containing salmon” were
tested by the real-time PCR assay, and four samples were detected without Salmoninae ingredient. Thus, considering its high
specificity, sensitivity and repeatability, we believed that the real-time PCR could be used to rapidly and accurately identify
Salmoninae ingredient in foods.

Key words: real-time polymerase chain reaction, Salmoninae, growth hormone gene, identification