Metabolic profiles of sunflower genotypes with contrasting response to Sclerotinia sclerotiorum infection

Understanding primary metabolism of sink organs comprising main targets for pathogen infections is of crucial importance in design of efficient strategies for control of plant diseases. Here utilizing a GC-MS-based metabolic profiling platform, it was found that, under field conditions, primary metabolic events in sunflower florets are differentially synchronized in genotypes displaying contrasting behavior to Sclerotinia sclerotiorum infection.