Classification of Crab-Field Rice and Conventional Rice Based on Multi-Element, Stable Isotope, and Non-Targeted...

Area of Science:

• Agricultural Chemistry
• Food Science
• Analytical Chemistry

Background:

• Rice quality is linked to cultivation methods, with rice-crab co-cultivation yielding premium products.
• The higher value of crab-field rice makes it susceptible to commercial fraud, necessitating reliable authentication methods.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a robust method for distinguishing crab-field rice from conventional rice.
• To identify key chemical markers indicative of rice origin and cultivation practices.

Main Methods:

• Synergistic application of multi-element analysis, stable isotope ratio analysis (δ15N and δ13C), and metabolite profiling.
• Utilized chemometric methods for data analysis and discriminant modeling.

Main Results:

• Seven key elements (Se, Rb, Cu, Cd, Ag, V, Zn), two stable isotopes (δ15N, δ13C), and nine metabolites were identified as significant discriminators.
• Discriminant analysis models based on elemental/isotopic data or metabolite data achieved complete separation between crab-field and conventional rice.

Conclusions:

• Isotope, elemental, and metabolic fingerprinting provide effective and reliable methods for authenticating crab-field rice.
• This approach supports the integrity of premium rice markets and protects consumers from fraudulent products.