Quantitative metabolomics approach reveals dynamics of primary metabolites in ‘Kinnow’ mandarin (C. nobilis × C. deliciosa) during advanced stages of fruit maturation under contrasting growing climates

ABSTRACT

This study employs a quantitative metabolomics approach to study the dynamics of primary metabolites in ‘Kinnow’ mandarin as influenced by maturation and ripening under contrasting growing climates. Fruit samples were harvested at regular intervals during the advanced stages of maturation and ripening from two contrasting growing locations, one under subtropical–arid (STA) climate and the other under subtropical–humid (STH) climate. Fruit juice samples were analysed using a targeted liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC/MS) technique for identification and quantitation of primary metabolites such as sugars, organic acids and some vitamins. Significant (p < 0.05) differences in the metabolite concentrations were observed to be influenced by maturation stage and growing location. An increase in the concentration of sugars and B-complex vitamins was observed during the final stages of maturation approaching commercial maturity, whereas organic acids and vitamin C concentrations decreased. Fruit grown under STA climate exhibited a higher concentration of vitamin C and a lower concentration of organic acids than those grown under STH climate. The results suggest that fruit metabolism during the final stages of maturation and ripening under arid versus humid climatic conditions is a key determinant of the flavour and nutritional quality of ‘Kinnow’ mandarin.

KEYWORDS:

• Ascorbic acid
• harvest maturity
• ‘Kinnow’
• mass spectrometry
• vitamins

Acknowledgments

MKS acknowledges the Junior and Senior Research Fellowship from National Agri-Food Biotechnology Institute (NABI), Department of Biotechnology, Government of India. We thank Jagdeep Singh of NABI for technical support. Thanks to Avtar Singh and Gurjinder Singh from the Punjab State Department of Horticulture for their assistance in fruit sample collection.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

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Correction Statement

This article has been republished with minor changes. These changes do not impact the academic content of the article.