Metabolomics of chemical constituents as a tool for understanding the quality of fruits during development and processing operations

Abstract

SummaryFruit is a crucial component of our diet, and breeding to produce nutrient‐rich cultivars necessitates a thorough examination of their metabolite composition. Fruit contains hundreds of different chemicals, including both primary and secondary (or specialised) metabolites. The structural diversity of health promoting and sensory attributes imparting metabolites and their complex interactions during fruit growth and developments were uncovered by high‐throughput metabolomics. Both targeted and non‐targeted metabolomics approach are used for the comprehensive analysis of small molecules from various complex matrices, addressing genetic, environment effect, metabolic programming, etc. With advances of mass spectrometer (MS), targeted metabolomics with non‐targeted metabolomics, MS‐based fingerprinting, profiling or imaging strategies and pseudo‐targeted are being employed to elucidate novel bioactive compounds. The exemplary reports cover a wide range of fruit metabolic implications, addressing the impact of processing on fruit flavour quality, the identification of sensory and nutraceutical biomarkers in fruits, metabolic alterations in fruits during post‐harvesting and future prospects. The examination of metabolomics profiles of multiple fruit species is anticipated to be benefitted for the expansion of fruits in terms of nutritional and health benefits aspects in the upcoming years.