LC-MS untargeted approach showed that methyl jasmonate application on Vitis labrusca L. grapes increases phenolics at subtropical Brazilian regions

Vitis labrusca L. grapes are largely cultivated in Brazil, but the tropical climate affect negatively the phenols content, especially anthocyanin. Therefore, researches are focusing on increase grape phenols content; with methyl jasmonate application (MeJa) considered a good alternative.
The aim was to investigate with an untargeted approach the metabolic changes caused by the MeJa pre-harvest application on two Vitis labrusca L. cultivars grape, both grown in two Brazilian regions. Isabel Precoce and Concord grapes cultivated under subtropical climate, on south and southeast of Brazil, received MeJa pre-harvest treatment. Grape metabolome was extracted and analyzed with a MS based metabolomics protocol by UPLC-HRMS-QTOF. Unsupervised data analysis reveal clear separation between the two regions and the two cultivars, while supervised data analysis revealed biomarkers between MeJa and control group. Between the biomarkers, stilbenes, hydrocinnamates, flavonols and anthocyanins were identified. These results suggest that MeJa can be used as elicitor to secondary metabolism in grapes grown even under subtropical climate, affecting phenolic biosynthesis.