Metabolic profiling of mango cultivars to identify biomarkers for resistance against Fusarium infection

- Metabolic profiling of mango cultivars indicates variability in phenolic levels.
- Chemometric models were able to predict susceptibility or tolerance to Fusarium.
- Cultivars with high levels of iriflophenone glucosides are linked to susceptibility.
- High levels of mangiferin and maclurin glucosides are associated with tolerance.

Infection of mango panicles and young leaf shoots by Fusarium results in significantly lower fruit yields. Some mango cultivars are known to be tolerant to blossom malformation, while others are highly susceptible. Previous researchers linked the ability of certain cultivars to confine Fusarium infection to the production of high levels of mangiferin. This study further elucidates the role of phenolic metabolites contributing to tolerance. Phenolic profiles of mature leaf extracts from cultivars with varying degrees of resistance to Fusarium infection were obtained by ultrahigh performance liquid chromatography-time-of-flight-mass detection. Chemometric models constructed from the data revealed a clear distinction between the profiles of tolerant and susceptible cultivars and permitted the identification of biomarkers associated with susceptibility to infection. The presence of elevated levels of mangiferin, maclurin and maclurin O-galloyl-glucoside in the leaves were associated with a higher degree of tolerance. In contrast, high levels of iriflophenone glucosides were linked to increased susceptibility of the cultivars to infection. These models can serve as an important tool to investigate appropriate cultivars, prior to their introduction to areas prone to the disease.