AbstractIntroduction The native potatoes (Solarium tuberosum ssp. tuberosum L.) cultivated on Chiloe Island in southern Chile have great variability in terms of tuber shape, size, color and flavor. These traits have been preserved throughout generations due to the geographical position of Chiloe, as well as the different uses given by local farmers.Objectives The present study aimed to investigate the diversity of metabolites in skin and pulp tissues of eleven native accessions of potatoes from Chile, and evaluate the metabolite associations between tuber tissues.Methods For a deeper characterization of these accessions, we performed a comprehensive metabolic study in skin and pulp tissues of tubers, 3 months after harvesting. Specific targeted quantification of metabolites using 96 well microplates, and high-performance liquid chromatography combined with non-targeted metabolite profiling by gas chromatography time-of-flight mass spectrometry were used in this study.Results We observed differential levels of antioxidant activity and phenolic compounds between skin and pulp compared to a common commercial cultivar (Desiree). In addition, we uncovered considerable metabolite variability between different tuber tissues and between native potatoes. Network correlation analysis revealed different metabolite associations among tuber tissues that indicate distinct associations between primary metabolite and anthocyanin levels, and antioxidant activity in skin and pulp tissues. Moreover, multivariate analysis lead to the grouping of native and commercial cultivars based on metabolites from both skin and pulp tissues.Conclusions As well as providing important information to potato producers and breeding programs on the levels of health relevant phytochemicals and other abundant metabolites such as starch, proteins and amino acids, this study highlights the associations of different metabolites in tuber skins and pulp, indicating the need for distinct strategies for metabolic engineering in these tissues. Furthermore, this study shows that native Chilean potato accessions have great potential as a natural source of phytochemicals.
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