Metabolite analysis of mini-cutting conditions during the rooting process of Ilex paraguariensis.

This study investigates the rooting process of Ilex paraguariensis mini-cuttings, focusing on clones EC24 and EC50. A total of 120 mini-cuttings were evaluated after 120 days in the greenhouse, with rooting parameters categorized as rooted, number of roots, length of the three major roots, dead, presence of calli, new sprouts, and retention of the original leaf. Metabolome analysis was conducted on the original halves of leaves, stored at -80 °C at the start of the rooting process, from dead (D) and rooted (R) mini-cuttings (sample IDs: 5, 21, 32, 38, 47, 51, 55, 57, 58, 60, 64, 67, 69, 73, 83, 85, 92, 97, 107, 118; File: Rooting_Performance_ of_ Mini_Cuttings). The analysis utilized gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The resulting data matrix contains semi-quantitative metabolite levels (μg/g; File: Metabolite_Quantification), where the sum of the peak heights for three characteristic mass-to-charge ratio-aligned molecular features of each metabolite was normalized to the internal standard peak height, its added amount (6 μg of isotopically labeled sorbitol), and the sample weight (g). This comprehensive analysis aims to identify key metabolites associated with the rooting process, offering insights into the metabolic dynamics of Ilex paraguariensis clones EC24 and EC50 during the mini-cutting rooting process.