Publications - Faculty - Recently Submitted Faculty Publications 2010
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Reyes - Phytochemical Analysis
Metabolomic Differentiation of Selected Citrus Varieties with Different Sensitivity to Citrus Huanglongbing
Juan M. Cevallos-Cevallos, David Futch, Turksen Shilts, Svetlana Y. Folimonova, and José I. Reyes-De-Corcuera
Abstract. Huanglongbing (HLB) is the most destructive disease of citrus worldwide. The development of tolerant varieties is considered a critical step towards controlling this disease.
Objectives – To determine whether metabolomic profiling can differentiate HLB-tolerant varieties ‘Poncirus trifoliata’ (TR) and ‘Carrizo citrange’ (CAR) oranges from HLB-sensitive varieties ‘Madam Vinous sweet orange’ (MV) and ‘Duncan’ grapefruit (DG) over a 20-week period.
Methodology – Metabolite profiles of the sensitive varieties MV and DG obtained by GC-MS analyses were compared to those of tolerant varieties TR and CAR by multivariate data analysis. Analyses of control and graft-inoculated plants were done immediately after inoculation and at 14 and 20 weeks after HLB inoculation.
Results –PCR analysis revealed that MV was the most sensitive variety in this study followed by DG and the tolerant varieties CAR and TR. Higher levels of the aminoacids L-proline, L-serine, and L-aspartic acid, as well as the organic acids butanedioic and tetradecanoic acid, and accumulation of galactose were characteristic of the most sensitive variety MV when compared to all other cultivars. Only galactose was significantly higher in DG when compared to tolerant varieties TR and CAR. The tolerant varieties TR and CAR showed higher levels of L-glycine and mannose when compared to sensitive varieties MV and DG.
Conclusion – Results suggest the potential of metabolomics for identification of citrus varieties tolerant to HLB.
