Abstract

Contemporary world food safety standards have emphasized the implementation of efficient food traceability systems, including the correct labeling of products for the authentication of the commercialized species. In this context, Chile has reached an important development in agricultural exportations, reaching near US$ 3.82 billion in 2007. Since the identification based on morphologic and organoleptic characteristics is complex during the elaboration process of aquaculture products, molecular tools need to be developed in order to genetically trace aquaculture products. This study analyzed five species of Chilean commercial mollusks using molecular DNA markers. From the partial sequences of the ribosomal region ITS1-5.8SrDNA-ITS2, the specific primers for the internal transcribed spacers 1 and 2 (ITS1, ITS2) were designed. These primers in 8 fresh species of mollusks, 5 commercial presentations and 3 processed species, obtaining specie-specific band patterns in all cases for both ITS. Additionally, the primers are shown to be highly specific and of replicable amplification products, independently from the commercial presentation of the studied species. Genetically trace aquaculture products. The presence of fraud for species substitution between canned abalone (Haliotis) and loco (Concholepas) species is discussed.