Article Cite This: J. Agric. Food Chem. 2017, 65, 9031-9040
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Unraveling Metabolic Variation for Blueberry and Chokeberry Cultivars Harvested from Different Geo-Climatic Regions in Korea Inseon Sim,† Dong Ho Suh,† Digar Singh,† Seon-Gil Do,‡ Kwang Hyun Moon,§ Jeong Ho Lee,§ Kang-Mo Ku,∥ and Choong Hwan Lee*,† †
Department of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Konkuk University, 120 Neungdong-ro, Gwangjin-gu, Seoul 05029, Republic of Korea Wellness R & D Center, Univera, Inc., 78 Achasan-ro, Sungdong-gu, Seoul 04782, Republic of Korea § Sunchang Research Institute of Health and Longevity, Indeok-ro, Ingye-myeon, Sunchang-gun, Jeollabuk-do 56015, Republic of Korea ∥ Division of Plant and Soil Sciences, West Virginia University, Morgantown, West Virginia 26505, United States ‡
S Supporting Information *
ABSTRACT: Temporal geo-climatic variations are presumably vital determinants of phenotypic traits and quality characteristics of berries manifested through reconfigured metabolomes. We performed an untargeted mass spectrometry (MS)-based metabolomic analysis of blueberry (Vaccinium spp.) and chokeberry (Aronia melanocarpa) sample extracts harvested from different geo-climatic regions in Korea. The multivariate statistical analysis indicated distinct metabolite compositions of berry groups based on different species and regions. The amino acids levels were relatively more abundant in chokeberry than in blueberry, while the sugar contents were comparatively higher in blueberry. However, the metabolite compositions were also dependent on geo-climatic conditions, especially latitude. Notwithstanding the cultivar types, amino acids, and sucrose were relatively more abundant in berries harvested from 35°N and 36°N geo-climatic regions, respectively, characterized by distinct duration of sunshine and rainfall patterns. The present study showed the ability of a metabolomics approach for recapitulating the significance of geo-climatic parameters for quality characterization of commercial berry types. KEYWORDS: blueberry (Vaccinium spp.), chokeberry (Aronia melanocarpa), geo-climatic regions, Korea, GC-TOF-MS, metabolite profiles, correlation analysis
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traditional areas of cultivation in the United States and Chile.11 As the berries are increasingly being cultivated across all the continents, the specific berry origins has become an important parameter to label its quality and nutritional-functional efficacies.12−15 Notwithstanding the texture, shape, and size, the berry qualities are also determined by their chemical compositions and the plethora of bioactive metabolites, with their contents presumably influenced by regional environmental conditions, i.e., soil and climatic conditions as well as associated microbiomes. In the case of grapes associated with the wine industry, the cultivation region and environment play an important role in quality characterization, in terms of “terroir” and “vintage.”16,17 However, the climatic parameters are seldom predictable, and even within the same or similar geographical regions, the chemical repertoires of fruits are highly variable.18 In previous years, there have been many reports correlating the geo-climatic conditions with qualities of various berry types viz., strawberry, raspberry, black currants, sea buckthorn, and blueberry cultivars.19−22 Hence, we consider that the geographical origins and climatic conditions are vital for securing the high-quality food resources as they crucially influence the metabolic composition of berries.
INTRODUCTION Blueberries and chokeberries are among the representative berry varieties, relished largely for their nutritional and bioactive components, consumed either directly or in processed forms.1 Blueberries are perennial shrubs belonging to the genus Vaccinium (family Ericaceae) with approximately 400 species native to North America.2 Different blueberry species including highbush blueberry (V. corymbosum), lowbush blueberry (V. angustifolium), and rabbiteye blueberry (V. ashei) are widely cultivated in many countries.3 On the other hand, chokeberries, also known as red chokeberry and black/purple chokeberry, are perennial shrubs belonging to the genus Aronia (family Rosaceae), native to North America and Eastern Canada.4 Most berries, including chokeberry and blueberry, are a rich source of phenolic compounds, flavonoids, anthocyanins, which have been shown to be bioactive, and are used in pharmacological applications as they have antioxidant, anticancer, antiaging properties; improve blood vessels; and aid in eye fatigue recovery.5−8 Owing to their pleasant taste and praised health effects, these berries have rapidly gained a good reputation in global trade, demand, and production. In the case of blueberries, more than 280 000 Mt of blueberries are harvested annually from over 36 352 ha of cultivated land, with annual berry yield and consumption increasing steadily worldwide.9,10 Accordingly, the cultivation of berries is expanding into wider regions of North America, South America, Europe, and Asia, beyond their © 2017 American Chemical Society
Received: Revised: Accepted: Published: 9031
August 31, 2017 September 26, 2017 September 27, 2017 September 27, 2017 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jafc.7b04065 J. Agric. Food Chem. 2017, 65, 9031−9040
Article
Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry
Table 1. Sample Information and Climatic Conditions of Blueberries (Vaccinium spp.) and Chokeberries (Aronia melanocarpa) Collected from Different Geographical Origins in the Republic of Korea
V; Vaccinium spp. bA; Aronia melanocarpa. cRecorded from full flowering stage to fruit harvest (May to August, 2016). dMeasurement data value for one-year from harvest time; annual average temperature. eMeasurement data value for one-year from harvest time; duration of sunshine. f Measurement data value for one-year from harvest time; rainfall. *Climatic conditions with significant differences with different geographical origins by PLS-DA (p value 0.7 and tested for significance at the p value 0.7, p value 0.7) from OPLS-DA and p value ( 0.7 and p value 0.7, p value 0.7, p value 0.7, p value 0.7, p value 0.7, p value
