Abstract
BackgroundThe qualitative and quantitative analysis of all low molecular weight metabolites within a biological sample, known as the metabolome, provides powerful insights into their roles in biological systems and processes. The study of all the chemical structures, concentrations, and interactions of the thousands of metabolites is called metabolomics. However present state of the art methods and equipment can only analyse a small portion of the numerous, structurally diverse groups of chemical substances found in biological samples, especially with respect to samples of plant origin with their huge diversity of secondary metabolites. Nevertheless, metabolite profiling and fingerprinting techniques have been applied to the analysis of the strawberry metabolome since their early beginnings.AimThe application of metabolomics and metabolite profiling approaches within strawberry research was last reviewed in 2011. Here, we aim to summarize the latest results from research of the strawberry metabolome since its last review with a special emphasis on studies that address specific biological questions.Key scientific conceptsAnalysis of strawberry, and other fruits, requires a plethora of analytical methods and approaches encompassing the analysis of primary and secondary metabolites, as well as capturing and quantifying volatile compounds that are related to aroma as well as fruit development, function and plant-to-plant communication. The success and longevity of metabolite and volatile profiling approaches in fruit breeding relies upon the ability of the approach to uncover biologically meaningful insights. The key concepts that must be addressed and are reviewed include: gene function analysis and genotype comparison, analysis of environmental effects and plant protection, screening for bioactive compounds for food and non-food uses, fruit development and physiology as well as fruit sensorial quality. In future, the results will facilitate fruit breeding due to the identification of metabolic QTLs and candidate genes for fruit quality and consumer preference.
Highlights
In addition to biopolymers including proteins, polysaccharides, lignins, and deoxynucleic acids, organisms ingest and produce a multitude of low-molecular weight molecules collectively called the metabolome (Oliver et al 1998)
The focus is on the analysis of secondary metabolites because they have been best studied in strawberry fruit and there are no studies, which focus only on the metabolite profiling of primary metabolites in strawberry fruit
Despite the fact that only a small number of the volatile metabolites contributes to the aroma of strawberry, the knowledge is important for genetic studies, plant breeding, plant protection, nutritional science, and the strawberry processing industry
Summary
In addition to biopolymers including proteins, polysaccharides, lignins, and deoxynucleic acids, organisms ingest and produce a multitude of low-molecular weight molecules collectively called the metabolome (Oliver et al 1998). The only review on the strawberry (Fragaria x ananassa) metabolome dates back to 2011 (Hanhineva et al 2011) In their excellent report, Hanhineva and co-workers discussed the non-volatile phytochemicals produced in leaf, flower and fruit of the strawberry plant, both with regard to the physiology of the plant and as a component of the human diet. Hanhineva and co-workers discussed the non-volatile phytochemicals produced in leaf, flower and fruit of the strawberry plant, both with regard to the physiology of the plant and as a component of the human diet They presented the metabolome of strawberry in connection with developments and applications of cutting-edge analytical chemistry-based approaches. This review cannot present newly identified strawberry compounds, except for acylphloroglucinols but focuses and discusses recent successful examples applying metabolite profiling and fingerprinting analysis to study strawberry plant physiology with the aim to improve fruit quality. The focus is on the analysis of secondary metabolites because they have been best studied in strawberry fruit and there are no studies, which focus only on the metabolite profiling of primary metabolites in strawberry fruit
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