Untargeted Metabolite Profiling of Camellia tetracocca’s Response to an Empoasca onukii Attack Using GC-MS and LC-MS

Abstract

Camellia tetracocca, a kind of tea with local popularity, is unique to southwest China, where it has an important natural heritage and cultural heritage. However, the tea plant and its sprout are frequently attacked on a large-scale by Empoasca onukii. The metabolic mechanisms of the unique plant for defending against these pest insects are unclear. Therefore, we used untargeted gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and high performance liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry (LC-MS) to compare the metabolite profiles between E. onukii-attacked leaves and healthy leaves. Using GC-MS, 56 metabolites (24 up-regulated, 32 down-regulated) were preliminarily identified. Additionally, 576 metabolites (280 up-regulated, 287 down-regulated) were rudimentarily identified with LC-MS. Differentially abundant metabolites were mainly enriched in the biosynthesis of specialized metabolites. Fourteen accumulated specialized metabolites are related to insect resistance. Mainly, momordicin I and arabidopside B are reportedly involved in the resistance to the insect. Therefore, we conjectured that the accumulation of momordicin I and arabidopside B is involved in the C. tetracocca’s resistance to E. onukii. Our results indicate that these specialized metabolites may be served as candidate biocontrol agents against the pest of E. onukii of C. tetracocca located in the State-owned Pubai Forest Farm.