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Quantifying terpenes in tomato leaf extracts from different species using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry
Jessica S Pizzo1, Thiago Rutz1, Ann S Ojeda2
1Department of Horticulture, Auburn University, Auburn, AL, 36849, USA.
Analytical Biochemistry
|March 7, 2024
Summary
Tomato plants use terpenes for defense. This study found significant terpene variations across species, identifying high levels of alpha-zingiberene in Solanum habrochaites for pest resistance breeding.
Area of Science:
- Plant Science
- Agricultural Chemistry
- Entomology
Background:
- Terpenes are crucial plant defense compounds produced by tomato glandular trichomes.
- These compounds mediate interactions with herbivores, predators, and pollinators.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare trichome extraction methods for terpene analysis in tomato.
- To quantify and identify variations in terpene profiles across different tomato species.
- To assess the potential of specific terpene profiles for pest resistance breeding.
Main Methods:
- Two methods, leaf dip and maceration, were used for trichome extraction.
- Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS) was employed for terpene quantification.
- Analysis was conducted on five tomato species: S. pennellii, S. pimpinellifolium, S. galapagense, S. habrochaites, and S. lycopersicum.
Main Results:
- The leaf dip method offered selective trichome content extraction with distinct patterns compared to maceration.
- GC-MS demonstrated high accuracy, sensitivity, and low detection limits for terpene quantification.
- Significant variations in terpene content were observed among the studied tomato species.
Conclusions:
- Solanum habrochaites accession PI209978 exhibited high concentrations of alpha-zingiberene, a whitefly repellent.
- Terpenoid diversity in tomatoes offers potential for developing pest-resistant cultivars.
- The study highlights the agricultural applications of terpenes in plant defense strategies.
