Investigation of the relationship between the metabolic profile of tobacco leaves in different planting regions and climate factors using a pseudotargeted method based on gas chromatography/mass spectrometry.

An improved pseudotargeted method using gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) was developed to investigate the metabolic profile of tobacco leaves from three planting regions (Yunnan, Guizhou, and Henan provinces). The analytical characteristics of the method with regard to reproducibility, precision, linearity, and stability were satisfactory for metabolic profiling study. Partial least-squares-discriminant analysis and hierarchical cluster analysis demonstrated that the metabolic profiles of tobacco from the Yunnan and Guizhou regions were different from that from the Henan province. The amino acid (e.g., phenylalanine, leucine, and tyrosine) and carbohydrate (e.g., fructose, trehalose, and sucrose) contents were the highest in Henan tobacco. The highest contents of organic acids (e.g., isocitrate, citrate, and fumarate) of the TCA cycle and antioxidants (e.g., quinate, chlorogenic acid, and ascorbate) were found in Guizhou tobacco. The correlation coefficients between metabolite content and climate factors (rainfall, sunshine, and temperature) demonstrated that drought facilitated the accumulation of sugars and amino acids. The content of TCA cycle intermediates could be influenced by multiple climate factors. This study demonstrates that the pseudotargeted method with GC/MS is suitable for the investigation of the metabolic profiling of tobacco leaves and the assessment of differential metabolite levels related to the growing regions.