Romina Pedreschi | PubMed Health

PubMed2026

LC-IMS-MS profiling of avocado acetogenins reveals tissue-dependent distribution and cultivar-specific metabolic signatures.

This study presents a comprehensive characterisation of acetogenin-related metabolites in avocado using an LC-IMS-MS workflow. A total of 26 metabolites were semi-quantified across peel, pulp and seed tissues from three cultivars (Hass, Bacon and Fuerte). The integration of ion mobility spectrometry enabled the generation of the first experimental database of collision cross section (CCS) values for avocado acetogenins, improving confidence in metabolite annotation. Results revealed a pronounced tissue-dependent distribution, with seeds and pulp as the primary reservoir of several acetogenins, whereas the peel consistently exhibited lower concentrations. In contrast, acetogenin levels remained largely stable throughout ripening. Clear cultivar-dependent differences were observed, with Hass displaying a distinct metabolic profile compared to Bacon and Fuerte. Multivariate analysis confirmed these findings, showing tissue-dependent cultivar differentiation. This study provides new insights into avocado chemical diversity and highlights the potential of avocado by-products as consistent and promising sources of bioactive acetogenins.

Persea↗

PubMed2025

Cultivar-Specific Differences in C6 and C7 Sugar Metabolism During Avocado Ripening: Comparative Insights from Bacon, Fuerte, and Hass.

Avocado is a unique fruit in which of seven-carbon (C7) sugars (notably D-mannoheptulose and perseitol) dominate the carbohydrate profile at harvest. Despite growing interest in sugar-mediated ripening processes, limited comparative data exist across cultivars. This work characterises the dynamic changes in non-structural carbohydrates in the mesotecarp of three commercially relevant avocado varieties-Bacon, Fuerte, and Hass-across four defined ripening stages, from unripe to overripe, with five biological replicates per stage. Using a validated hydrophilic interaction liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (HILIC-MS) method, we quantified five key sugars and assessed their evolution through ripening. Concentrations varied among the studied samples within the following ranges: D-mannoheptulose, 0.4-49 mg/g dry weight (DW); perseitol, 0.5-23 mg/g DW; glucose, 0.8-5.3 mg/g DW; fructose, 0.6-4.5 mg/g DW; and sucrose, 0.5-3.4 mg/g DW. C7 sugar levels consistently declined, while C6 sugars increased-primarily between the intermediate and ready-to-eat stages-with distinct cultivar-specific patterns. Bacon maintained elevated C7 concentrations for a longer period; Fuerte exhibited a rapid transition from C7 to C6 sugars; and Hass displayed a more gradual and balanced shift. Multivariate analysis (partial least squares discriminant analysis, PLS-DA) effectively discriminated between cultivars at each ripening stage, confirming cultivar-specific metabolic signatures. These findings offer new insights into avocado carbohydrate metabolism, emphasising variety-dependent pathways that could inform breeding strategies, optimise postharvest ripening protocols, and support the nutritional characterisation of different avocado cultivars.

Persea americana↗