About this Research Topic

Background

The authentication and traceability of plant geographical origin have become an important subject because the quality of products always varies in different regions. For example, radix pseudo-ginseng from Yunnan province in China show better bioactivity than other origin to promote blood circulation and arrest bleeding, rhizoma dioscoreae from Henan show better tonic activity, and radix angelicae sinensis from Gansu are more excellent hemopoietics. That is so-called genuine herbs / daodi material medica. Nowadays, with the globalization of the market and the convenience of transportation, the origin differences in quality and safety have attracted keen attention of consumers, governments, manufacturing enterprises, and scholars worldwide. Although it has been known that these differences are a combination of factors including germplasm, ecological environment, and sometimes artificial selection at least, the fast and accurate authentication and traceability of plant geographical origin are still challenging. Therefore, the authentication and traceability system is in need to be focused on and established to ensure the quality of plant product, guarantee the various rights and interests of consumer, and protect geographical indication products. In this research topic, we strive to publish the latest developments of authentication and traceability of plant geographical origin of materials that can be used as medicine or both food and medicine.

Chemical diversity of the specialized metabolites regarding different geographical origins have been paid more attention in research. Progress has been made in authentication germplasm, identification of ecological factors influencing the quality, discovery of morphological characteristics, determination of characteristic components and elements, evaluation biological activity, and so on. Based on research needs, many analysis and identification methods have been applied. Non-destructive analysis technology such as near infrared spectrum, nuclear magnetic resonance, electronic sensor technology such as electronic nose and tongue, chemistry analysis methods chromatography, mass spectrometry, metabolomics, etc., and biological identification method such as DNA molecular marker, bioactivity detection, have been applied. Nevertheless, there are certain limitations, especially in practicability and the relationship between the plant geographical origin and the specialized metabolites of the medicinal plants’ quality. Hence, there is an urgency and need for more in-depth studies on the chemical diversity of specialized metabolites in medicinal plants of geographical origins, including analysis of the synthesis and accumulation of their bioactive compounds. In addition, it is of great value to develop new methods and exploration strategies for fast and accurate authentication and traceability of plant geographical origin.

In this Research Topic, we welcome all article types published by Frontiers in Plant Science that focus on but are not limited to:

• Innovation methods or techniques for analyzing synthesis, accumulation, and chemical diversity of the specialized metabolites of medicinal plants in geographical origins

• New strategies for integrating multiple methods and techniques in the analysis of the chemical diversity of medicinal plants, such as multi-omics.

• Progress in all aspects of the data analysis approach especially multidimensional and/or multivariate analysis for use in geographical origin authentication and traceability.

• Research on the correlation between the formation mechanism of the product quality, such as the synthesis, accumulation of bioactivity, and plant geographical origin.

• The development and utilization of plant germplasm resources based on the results of geographical origin traceability and germplasm authentication, e.g. discovery of lead compounds, development of quality control procedures, introduction and domestication of high-quality germplasms, and development of geographical indication products.

Keywords: geographical origin, traceability, authentication, plant germplasm, multidimensional data analysis, resource utilization

Important note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.

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