Authors: Kushalappa, A.C.; Vikram, A.; Raghavan, G.S.V.

Source: Stewart Postharvest Review, Volume 4, Number 2, April 2008 , pp. 1-7(7)

Publisher: Stewart Postharvest Solutions

Abstract:

Purpose of review: Metabolomics is a novel biochemical tool for biological studies, including diagnosis of food contaminants and spoilage. It is a non-target approach used to detect, identify and quantify all the metabolites of an organism. With the advent of genomics the need for gene function elucidation has led to the development of chromatographic tools that can now detect hundreds of metabolites in one chromatographic run. In addition, multivariate analysis has enabled classification of spoilage groups involving complex interactions. Postharvest losses of crops, due to spoilage, mainly by microbial contamination, are often very high. Even though metabolites have been used in the identification of food spoilage for a long time, the latest developments in the area of metabolomics are very encouraging for better achieving such a goal. In this paper, the gradual advances made in the use of metabolomics to diagnose spoilage of crops after harvest have been reviewed with comments on directions for future research.

Main findings: The metabolomics approach has enabled not only separation of different degrees of food spoilage, but also identification of specific causes of food spoilage. The review reports: 1) what is involved in metabolomics studies; 2) a detailed description of several metabolites or combinations of few metabolites specific to spoilage of different fruits and vegetables; 3) multivariate models to discriminate classes of specific spoilage; 4) the possible application of such a technology to detect and diagnose diseases of postharvest fruits and vegetables under commercial conditions.

Directions for future research: Metabolomics is a powerful biochemical tool. However, its full potential has not been exploited to diagnose spoilage of crops after harvest. It can be applied to analyse headspace gases, as well as to characterise the chemical composition of living organisms, which in turn can be used in the diagnosis of food deterioration. The latest advances in the metabolomics technology include sophisticated algorithms and software to automatically deconvolute chromatographic peaks and identify compounds using several databases. Understanding the details of metabolomics analysis is crucial for the efficient use of such a powerful tool to manage crop spoilage after harvest. The directions for the future research needed for the transfer of the metabolomics technology to reduce crop spoilage after harvest, under commercial conditions, are proposed.

Keywords: METABOLIC PROFILING; FOOD SPOILAGE; DISEASE DETECTION; POSTHARVEST PATHOLOGY; VOLATILE ORGANIC COMPOUNDS; DISEASE; MONITORING

Document Type: Research article

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.2212/spr.2008.2.10

Publication date: 2008-04-01

More about this publication?

• Stewart Postharvest Review is published bi-monthly and covers a wide range of topics in various areas of postharvest biology and technology.
  
  Stewart Postharvest Solutions is pleased to offer you a Free Trial to Stewart Postharvest Review. Individuals receive a free 30 day trial and institutions receive a free 3 month trial to Stewart Postharvest Review - Access to volume 2 only
  
  To take advantage of this offer just sign in with your administrator details and click on the "Sign up for a free trial" link below.
• Editorial Board
• Information for Authors
• Terms & Conditions
• ingentaconnect is not responsible for the content or availability of external websites

Related content

• In this: publication
• By this: publisher
• In this Subject: Botany ,  Chemistry
• By this author: Kushalappa, A.C. ;  Vikram, A. ;  Raghavan, G.S.V.

Website © Publishing Technology. Article copyright remains with the publisher, society or author(s) as specified within the article.

• Terms and conditions
• Privacy policy
• Information for advertisers