Geographical origin of polished rice based on multiple element and stable isotope analyses

Abstract

We determined carbon and nitrogen contents (C and N contents) and stable carbon, nitrogen, and oxygen isotopic compositions (δ(13)C, δ(15)N, and δ(18)O) of polished rice in order to develop a simple method to discriminate its geographical origin. As a first attempt, we examined a single cultivar, Koshihikari rice, from 14 different cultivation areas including Australia (n=1), Japan (n=12), and USA (n=1). For all rice samples, C and N contents and the isotopic compositions are consistent with those of general plant materials, being 37.2-40.0% (C content), 0.8-1.4% (N content), -27.1 to -25.4% (δ(13)C), +0.4 to +9.0% (δ(15)N), and +18.8 to +22.9% (δ(18)O). However, its cultivated area is clearly distinguished by a pentagonal radar plot based on the elemental and isotopic compositions. Thus, the comparison of C and N contents and δ(13)C, δ(15)N, and δ(18)O values would potentially be useful for rapid and routine discrimination of geographical origin of the polished rice.

Keywords: C and N contents; Geographical origin; Koshihikari; Rice; δ(13)C; δ(15)N; δ(18)O.