Understanding the impact of essential oils on grape metabolism and pathogen resistance: a study with a focus on Botrytis cinerea


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Kaya O., KARAKUŞ S., Bozkurt A., Yilmaz T., Hajizadeh H. S., Turan M.

Chemical and Biological Technologies in Agriculture, vol.11, no.1, 2024 (SCI-Expanded) identifier

  • Publication Type: Article / Article
  • Volume: 11 Issue: 1
  • Publication Date: 2024
  • Doi Number: 10.1186/s40538-024-00572-2
  • Journal Name: Chemical and Biological Technologies in Agriculture
  • Journal Indexes: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus
  • Keywords: Berry quality, Essential oils, Grape metabolism, Pathogen resistance, Post-harvest preservation
  • Hakkari University Affiliated: Yes

Abstract

Background: The exploration of EOs and their impact on primary metabolites in agricultural products, such as grapes, holds significant importance in the post-harvest preservation and enhancement of berry quality. Therefore, our research aimed to dissect the effects of various EO treatments on the biochemical composition of grapes, specifically examining alterations in sugar, organic acid, and amino acid levels. Results: Our findings highlighted that the OF treatment, a combination of Eugenol and Botrytis cinerea, significantly escalated sugar content, with remarkable increases in sucrose, glucose, and fructose compared to the control group. The SF treatment led to the highest levels of certain organic acids, including tartaric, butyric, and malonic acids, whereas the TO treatment prominently augmented amino acids such as tyrosine and phenylalanine. Utilizing PCA, our study effectively captured the variability within the treatment dataset, revealing distinct clusters of treatments and their correlations with specific metabolites. The PCA biplot underscored the influence of treatments on metabolic profile of grape berries, with treatments like OSF, TO, and TOSF demonstrating close associations with specific amino acids, suggesting positive correlations. Conclusion: Our current results indicate that EOs substantial influence on the metabolic profile of grapes, resulting in enhanced fruit quality and extended shelf life. Variations in sugar, organic acid, and amino acid levels among different EO treatments highlight their potential for improving post-harvest characteristics. To sum up, these findings are valuable for the agricultural and food industries, showcasing the utility of EOs as natural preservatives and enhancers in fruit cultivation and storage. Graphical Abstract: (Figure presented.)