Lipidomic profiling reveals phenotypic diversity and nutritional benefits in Ficus carica L. (Fig.) seed cultivars

Ahmed Irchad; Rachida Ouaabou; Rachid Aboutayeb; Rachid Razouk; Karim Houmanat; Lahcen Hssaini

doi:10.3389/fpls.2023.1229994

Lipidomic profiling reveals phenotypic diversity and nutritional benefits in Ficus carica L. (Fig.) seed cultivars

Front Plant Sci. 2023 Nov 10:14:1229994. doi: 10.3389/fpls.2023.1229994. eCollection 2023.

Authors

Ahmed Irchad^#^{1

2}, Rachida Ouaabou³, Rachid Aboutayeb⁴, Rachid Razouk⁴, Karim Houmanat⁴, Lahcen Hssaini^#⁴

Affiliations

¹ Faculty of Sciences and Techniques, University of Comoros, Moroni, Comoros.
² Hygiene and Food Safety Department, National Research Institute for Agriculture, Fisheries and Environment (INRAPE), Ex CEFADER, M'dé, Ngazidja, Moroni, Comoros.
³ Environmental Technologies, Biotechnology and Valorization of Bio-Resources Team, Faculty of Sciences and Techniques Al-Hoceïma, Abdelmalek Essâadi University, Al-Hoceïma, Morocco.
⁴ Agro-Food Technology and Quality Laboratory, Regional Center of Agricultural Research of Meknes, National Institute of Agricultural Research, Rabat, Morocco.

^# Contributed equally.

Abstract

Introduction: Ficus carica L. seeds are a substantial source of minor oil with high unsaturation levels and potent antioxidant properties. The study aims to evaluate the mineral composition, lipodomic profile, and vibrational fingerprints of 22 fig genotypes utilizing FTIR-ATR techniques and chemometrics.

Methods: FTIR-ATR spectroscopy and chemometric techniques were employed to examine the phenotypic diversity of fig seeds. The investigation was performed in detail. The research analyzed twenty-two fig genotypes to assess their nutritional properties, genetic relationships, and potential applications.

Results: The results demonstrate substantial nutritional benefits related to fig seeds, which could serve as genetic resources for selection programs for extracting vegetable oil and functional ingredients. Additionally, a detailed lipodomic profile analysis led to the categorization of the genotypes into four unique clusters. The study uncovered new insights regarding the nutritional composition of the samples, while also highlighting significant similarities and differences. The findings showcased the phenotypic diversity within the studied fig germplasm, which is likely attributed to underlying genetic factors. These accessions offer a valuable gene pool for future breeding programs and diverse applications involving fig seeds.

Discussion: This work contributes to the selection of potential genotypes for scientific and industrial purposes. Furthermore, the application of FTIR and chemometrics revealed a noteworthy diversity of patterns, emphasizing the previously underestimated significance of this aspect in evaluating the chemodiversity of the species.

Keywords: Ficus carica L; chemometrics; ionomic analysis; nutritional quality; seeds; vibrational spectroscopy.