Metabolite Profiling Approach Reveals the Interface of Primary and Secondary Metabolism in Colored Cauliflowers (Brassica oleracea L. ssp. botrytis)

• Published in: Journal of agricultural and food chemistry Vol. 61; no. 28; pp. 6999 - 7007
• Main Authors: Park, Soo-Yun, Lim, Sun-Hyung, Ha, Sun-Hwa, Yeo, Yunsoo, Park, Woo Tae, Kwon, Do Yeon, Park, Sang Un, Kim, Jae Kwang
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Washington, DC American Chemical Society 17.07.2013
• Subjects: Amino Acids - analysis; Anthocyanins - analysis; Biological and medical sciences; Brassica - classification; Brassica - metabolism; Carbohydrates - analysis; Carboxylic Acids - analysis; Carotenoids - analysis; Food industries; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry; Hydroxybenzoates - analysis; Least-Squares Analysis; Metabolome; Pigmentation; Plant Extracts - chemistry; Secondary Metabolism; Species Specificity; Sugar Alcohols - analysis; cauliflower; carotenoids; partial least-squares discriminant analysis; metabolomics; phenolic acids; Discriminant analysis; Botrytis; Phenolic acid; Metabolite; Color; Fungi; Brassica oleracea; Cruciferae; Dicotyledones; Angiospermae; Pigments; Cauliflower; Spermatophyta; Fungi Imperfecti; Carotenoid; Secondary metabolism; Interface
• ISSN: 0021-8561; 1520-5118
• DOI: 10.1021/jf401330e

In the present study, carotenoids, anthocyanins, and phenolic acids of cauliflowers (Brassica oleracea L. ssp. botrytis) with various colored florets (white, yellow, green, and purple) were characterized to determine their phytochemical diversity. Additionally, 48 metabolites comprising amino acids, organic acids, sugars, and sugar alcohols were identified using gas chromatography–time-of-flight mass spectrometry (GC-TOFMS). Carotenoid content was considerably higher in green cauliflower; anthocyanins were detected only in purple cauliflower. Phenolic acids were higher in both green and purple cauliflower. Results of partial least-squares discriminant, Pearson correlation, and hierarchical clustering analyses showed that green cauliflower is distinct on the basis of the high levels of amino acids and clusters derived from common or closely related biochemical pathways. These results suggest that GC-TOFMS-based metabolite profiling, combined with chemometrics, is a useful tool for determining phenotypic variation and identifying metabolic networks connecting primary and secondary metabolism.