Figure 1.

PCR amplification carried out with selective markers on: crocus (Croc), safflower (Cart), curcuma (Curc), calendula (Cal), gardenia (Gard) and buddleia (Budd). It is possible to see the high specificity of crocus, curcuma, safflower and calendula markers, while those for gardenia and buddleia also amplify in other species. For traceability purposes, it is important that the primers for the adulterants do not amplify in saffron and vice versa. Gardenia and buddleia were run on a separate gel, as clearly visible in the figure. Key: S (saffron), G (gardenia), C (safflower), B (buddleia), Cu (curcuma) and Ca (calendula).