Simultaneously quantification of organic acids metabolites by HPLC mass spectrometry to reveal the postharvest quality change in cherry tomato

Abstract

The organic acids in fruits have critical impacts on palatability and flavor. In this paper, we established a method to quantify 21 essential organic acids in animal and plant matrices using HPLC mass spectrometry with high sensitivity and broad applicability. The organic acids in 12 animal and plant matrices were quantified. Additionally, the profile and concentration of organic acids could achieve the classification of samples. The fruit quality traits and important organic acids content during the storage of cherry tomatoes were monitored via our method. Nine organic acids changed significantly in 16 days of storage, especially citric acid, as the most predominant organic acid, decreased from 4260 to 2290 μg/g, leading to a decline in sourness of 46.2 %. In contrast, after 16 days of storage, galacturonic, gluconic, malonic and quinic acids increased by 155 %, 88 %, 162 %, and 112 %, respectively, which had a potential effect on softening and deteriorating of cherry tomatoes.