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Application of untargeted metabolome analyses for assessment and safety and quality of plant-derived foods
Project
Project code: MRI-OG-08-54401
Contract period: 01.01.2001
- 31.08.2022
Purpose of research: Applied research
Fruit and vegetables as well as plant-derived foods contain a high number of substances. Most of them are endogenous metabolites. However, some of them may be formed under certain circumstances as in case of microbial contamination or technological processing and may thus reduce product quality or even pose a risk for consumers. Unexpected and especially unknown compound can only be detected using untargeted analysis methods. The aim of this research program is to describe the changes of the composition of plant-derived foods using comprehen-sive two-dimensional gas chromatography-mass spectro-metry (GC×GC-MS). Designated fields of application are: - Identification of compounds in plant-derived foods formed during colonization by bacteria or fungi, especially those that are neither mycotoxins nor their metabolites. The aim is to establish early spoilage markers. - Identification of endogenous markers for plant resistance against pathogens in order to enable directed breeding strategies. - Evaluation of the impact of processing methods on the chemical composition of foods, e.g., the effect of UV-C treatment on the metabolite profile of fruit juices, in the sense of a security screening.
The metabolite profiles of four tomato varieties grown outdoors on two different sites were compared. As shown by a GC×GC-MS metabolome analysis, variety-dependent differences were more pronounced than site-dependent differences. Further investigations revealed that the fungus Alternaria alternata could colonise the fruits of the wild type-like variety “ornamental tomato” only slowly and produced much smaller amounts of the mycotoxin alternariol, compared to the other varieties. The lower susceptibility of the “ornamental tomato” could be ascribed in part to higher concentrations of chlorogenic acid in the pulp [1]. [1] Wojciechowska E, Weinert CH et al., Chlorogenic acid, a metabolite identified by untargeted metabolome analysis in resistant tomatoes, inhibits the colonization by Alternaria alternata by inhibiting alternariol biosynthesis. European Journal of Plant Pathology 2014, 139(4), S. 735-747.
Section overview
Subjects
- Food Processing
- Biotechnology
- Toxicology
Framework programme
Funding programme
Excutive institution
MRI - Department of Safety and Quality of Fruit and Vegetables (MRI-OG)
