Direct analysis real-time–high-resolution mass spectrometry for Triticum species authentication

ABSTRACT

Due to favourable climate condition, Italy is a prominent producer of different wheat varieties. Several wheat baked goods are produced, but the most typical Italian foods, like pasta, pizza and bread, are made of durum and common wheat flour. Because of the great importance of wheat in the Italian food market, authenticity represents an essential quality parameter not only for the producers and regulatory bodies but also for consumers. The aim of our study was to test the effectiveness of an unconventional non-targeted method for the discrimination of Triticum species using direct analysis real time–high-resolution mass spectrometry (DART–HRMS). For this purpose, 60 wheat samples including durum, common and hulled wheat varieties were collected over two consecutive harvest years. Chemometric evaluation revealed an optimal sample clustering according to the wheat species and the presence of 18 significant markers able to discriminate the groups. The discrimination power obtained is promising since the use of DART–HRMS can significantly reduce the analysis time compared to chromatographic techniques. A plausible future commercial and industrial scenario could see the application of this analytical approach especially to evaluate the risk of substitution of higher value wheat species with lower value flours.

GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT

KEYWORDS:

• Food authenticity
• untargeted mass spectrometry
• ambient ionisation
• cereals

Acknowledgements

The authors kindly thank Dante Catellani (Barilla Advanced Laboratory Research) for active collaboration to the project, Cristina Piazza and Roberto Reggiani (Azienda Agraria Sperimentale Stuard) for the support in selecting and harvesting the hulled wheat varieties, and Roberto Ranieri (OpenFields Srl) for the significant advisory activity.

Part of the study presented was financially supported by LR 28/98 – Emilia Romagna Region under the funding programme 49, LR28/98, Call 2013 – ‘AMicoGrano, Analysis of the incidence of Mycotoxins on modern and ancient Grains grown under organic and conventional regimes’. The study was undertaken by SAFE&SMART – Nuove tecnologie abilitanti per la food safety e per l’integrità delle filiere agro-alimentari in uno scenario globale ‘Italian National Funded Project CTN01_00230_248064 Decreto di ammissione alle agevolazioni protocollo n. 146 del 17/01/2014 Proroga protocollo n. 0016791 del 06/09/2016 CUP B48F13000400008’.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

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