1H HR-MAS NMR-based metabolomics study of different persimmon cultivars (Diospyros kaki) during fruit development

- 'Fuyu' and 'Giombo' persimmon fruits during the development were investigated.
- 1H HR-MAS NMR spectra acquired directly from the fruits allowed monitoring chemical changes over the process.
- Both cultivars seemed to grow in a very similar manner.
- The polyphenol composition was quite different between the cultivars.
- This study may contribute to the elaboration of new post-harvest strategies.

1H HR-MAS NMR spectroscopy was used to track the metabolic changes throughout the whole development of astringent ('Giombo') and non-astringent ('Fuyu') cultivars of persimmon (Diospyros kaki). The NMR data revealed the low concentration of amino acids (threonine, alanine, citrulline and GABA) and organic acids (malic acid). In addition, the signals of carbohydrates (sucrose, glucose and fructose) seemed to play the most important role in the fruit development. In both cultivars, the growth was characterized by fluctuating sucrose concentration along with a constant increase in both glucose and fructose. In the initial growth stage, the polyphenol composition was quite different between the cultivars. Gallic acid was detected throughout the growth of 'Giombo', while for 'Fuyu', signals of polyphenols disappeared over time. Additional multivariate analysis suggested that these cultivars share many metabolic similarities during development. These findings might help the comprehension of fruit development, which in turn, impacts the quality of the fruits.

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