PCR-based Weissella species-specific detection method was developed to apply for the discrimination of Korean and Chinese kimchi by detecting a Weissella species only found in Korean or Chinese kimchi. PCR primers were designed from the species-specific sequence in the recN gene of each species. The primers allowed the species-specific detection and identification of nine species in the genera Weissella, and were successfully applied to the detection of W. cibaria, W. confusa, W. koreensis, and W. soli in kimchi with 20 ng template DNA. W. cibaria, W. confusa, and W. koreensis were detected from the Korean kimchi samples tested but W. soli was not detected. However, the four species were detected from Chinese kimchi samples. PCR-based W. soli-specific detection could not be perfectly applied as the Chinese kimchi discriminating method but has significance as an approach to evaluate the potential of scientific verification method based on the difference of microbial community.
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