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Published on: April 30, 2018
What is a plant chemotype, anyway?
Caroline Müller1, Thomas Dussarrat2, Nicole M van Dam3
1Chemical Ecology, Bielefeld University, Universitätsstr. 25, Bielefeld 33615, Germany; Joint Institute for Individualisation in a Changing Environment (JICE), University of Münster and Bielefeld University, Bielefeld, Germany.
Plant chemotypes, defined by specific metabolite profiles within a chemical family, are crucial for understanding plant chemical diversity. Explicitly stating the plant organ and chemical family is essential for accurate chemotype classification.
Area of Science:
- Plant Science
- Metabolomics
- Chemical Ecology
Background:
- Plant species display chemical polymorphisms in specialized metabolites.
- These variations lead to the classification of chemotypes based on distinct chemical profiles within a chemical family.
Purpose of the Study:
- To present existing definitions and approaches for classifying plant chemotypes.
- To identify factors influencing chemotype determination.
- To emphasize the importance of specifying the organ and chemical family for accurate classification.
Main Methods:
- Review of existing literature on chemotype classification.
- Analysis of factors influencing chemical polymorphisms.
- Discussion of standardization for chemotype designation.
Main Results:
- Chemotype classification relies on distinct metabolite profiles within specific chemical families.
- Chemical profiles can vary significantly across different plant organs.
- The choice of chemical family impacts plant grouping.
Conclusions:
- Accurate chemotype classification requires explicit declaration of the plant organ and the specific chemical family studied.
- Further research into plant chemotypes is vital for both fundamental and applied scientific advancements.
- Standardized reporting of chemotype data will enhance comparability and utility.
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