Detection of Wasabi (Wasabia Japonica Matsum.) in Food Products by Using Myrosinase Genes

Abstract

Wasabi (Wasabia japonica Matsum.) is a Japanese traditional spice. Many kinds of processed foods that include wasabi as an ingredient have been developed and produced. Here, we report on the detection of the myrosinase genes of wasabi from products containing wasabi. Because wasabi had multiple copies of myrosinase genes that closely resembled each other, primers were designed so that the gene family could be amplified. Polymerase chain reaction with the primers indicated that fragments of the myrosinase genes were amplified from DNA samples of all wasabi cultivars tested, but no bands were found when DNA of other species, such as horseradish, radish, spinach, and pea, were tested. In addition, the system could detect wasabi myrosinase genes from food products that included wasabi. These results suggest that this technique is applicable for the specific detection of wasabi in a variety of products.