Metabolomic change precedes apple superficial scald symptoms

J Agric Food Chem. 2009 Sep 23;57(18):8459-66. doi: 10.1021/jf901571g.

Abstract

Untargeted metabolic profiling was employed to characterize metabolomic changes associated with 'Granny Smith' apple superficial scald development following 1-MCP or DPA treatment. Partial least-squares discriminant analyses were used to link metabolites with scald, postharvest treatments, and storage duration. Models revealed metabolomic differentiation between untreated controls and fruit treated with DPA or 1-MCP within 1 week following storage initiation. Metabolic divergence between controls and DPA-treated fruit after 4 weeks of storage preceded scald symptom development by 2 months. alpha-Farnesene oxidation products with known associations to scald, including conjugated trienols, 6-methyl-5-hepten-2-one, and 6-methyl-5-hepten-2-ol, were associated with presymptomatic as well as scalded control fruit. Likewise, a large group of putative triterpenoids with mass spectral features similar to those of ursolic acid and beta-sitosterol were associated with control fruit and scald. Results demonstrate that extensive metabolomic changes associated with scald precede actual symptom development.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Antioxidants
  • Cold Temperature / adverse effects*
  • Cyclopropanes / administration & dosage
  • Diphenylamine / administration & dosage
  • Food Preservation / methods*
  • Fruit / chemistry
  • Fruit / metabolism*
  • Malus*
  • Metabolomics*
  • Oxidative Stress
  • Time Factors

Substances

  • Antioxidants
  • Cyclopropanes
  • Diphenylamine
  • 1-methylcyclopropene