Determination of Variance of Secondary Metabolites in Lettuces Grown Under Different Light Sources by Flow Injection Mass Spectrometric (FIMS) Fingerprinting and ANOVA–PCA

Abstract

Lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) is one of the most consumed vegetables in the world and different management practice can result in considerable variability of the secondary metabolites. Flow injection mass spectrometry (FIMS) combined with analysis of variance–principle component analysis (ANOVA–PCA) was used to study differences in the secondary metabolites originating from different lighting conditions (Sunlight, white light, and florescent light) and lettuce varieties (Romaine and Lollo Rossa). Ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography–high-resolution accurate mass spectrometry was used for putative marker compound identification. Quinic acid, caffeic acid, chlorogenic acid, L-chicoric acid, and quercetin malonyl glucoside varied significantly for Romaine lettuce grown under different light conditions. The study showed that the combination of FIMS fingerprinting and ANOVA–PCA can be a useful tool for the characterization of the sources of variance in plant materials regarding to genetic, environmental, and management factors.