Characterization and Discrimination of Ancient Grains: A Metabolomics Approach

摘要: Hulled, or ancient, wheats were the earliest domesticated by mankind and ancestors of current wheats. Their cultivation drastically decreased during 1960s; however, increasing demand for a healthy equilibrated diet led to rediscovering these grains. Our aim was use non-targeted metabolomic approach discriminate characterize similarities differences between ancient Triticum varieties. For this purpose, 77 hulled wheat samples from three different varieties collected: Garfagnana T. turgidum var. dicoccum L. (emmer), ID331 monococcum (einkorn) Rouquin spelta (spelt). The ultra high performance liquid chromatography coupled resolution tandem mass spectrometry (UHPLC-QTOF) metabolomics highlighted pronounced sample clustering according variety, with an excellent predictability (Q2), all models built. Fifteen metabolites tentatively identified based on accurate masses, isotopic pattern, product ion spectra. Among these, alkylresorcinols (ARs) found be significantly higher in spelt emmer, showing homologue composition. Furthermore, phosphatidylcholines (PC) lysophosphatidylcholines (lysoPC) levels einkorn variety. results obtained study confirmed importance ARs as markers distinguish species revealed their values cultivar markers, being not affected environmental influences.