title: Near infrared spectroscopy applied to the rapid prediction of the floral origin and mineral content of honeys.
abstract: Consumers demand to know the floral origins of honeys. Therefore, the use of simple and reliable techniques for differentiating among honeys by their origins is necessary. Multivariate statistical techniques and near infrared spectroscopy applied to palynological and mineral characteristics make it possible to differentiate among the types of honey collected from Northwestern Spain. Prediction models using a modified partial least squares regression for the main pollen types (Castanea, Eucalyptus, Rubus and Erica) in honeys and their mineral composition (potassium, calcium, magnesium and phosphorus) were established. Good multiple correlation coefficients (higher than 0.700) and acceptable standard errors of cross-validation were obtained. The ratio performance deviation exhibited a good prediction capacity for Rubus pollen and for Castanea pollen, whereas for minerals, for Eucalyptus pollen and for Erica pollen the ratio performance deviation was excellent. Near infrared spectroscopy was established as a rapid and effective tool to obtain equations of prediction that contribute to the honey typification.
authors.affiliation: Department of Vegetal Biology and Soil Sciences, Faculty of Sciences, University of Vigo, As Lagoas, 32004 Ourense, Spain. Electronic address: oescuredo@uvigo.es.
authors.forename: Olga
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Escuredo
authors.affiliation: Department of Analytical and Food Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, University of Salamanca, Plaza de la Merced, 37008 Salamanca, Spain.
authors.forename: M Inmaculada
authors.initials: MI
authors.lastname: González-Martín
authors.affiliation: Department of Vegetal Biology and Soil Sciences, Faculty of Sciences, University of Vigo, As Lagoas, 32004 Ourense, Spain.
authors.forename: M Shantal
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Rodríguez-Flores
authors.affiliation: Department of Vegetal Biology and Soil Sciences, Faculty of Sciences, University of Vigo, As Lagoas, 32004 Ourense, Spain.
authors.forename: M Carmen
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Seijo
mesh_terms: D006722:Honey / Q000032:analysis*; D008903:Minerals / Q000032:analysis*; D011058:Pollen / Q000737:chemistry*; D019265:Spectroscopy, Near-Infrared / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D008903:Minerals
keywords: Cross-validation; Honey; Minerals; Modified partial least squares; Near infrared spectroscopy; Principal components