Searching standards of citrus sinensis compounds to be used in studies of change between citrus, insect and microorganisms applying to metabolomics analysis

• Grant number: 18/26024-7
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: May 01, 2019
• End date: December 31, 2020
• Field of knowledge: Physical Sciences and Mathematics - Chemistry - Organic Chemistry
• Principal Investigator: Maria Fátima das Graças Fernandes da Silva
• Grantee: Fernanda Amaral Faria
• Host Institution: Centro de Ciências Exatas e de Tecnologia (CCET). Universidade Federal de São Carlos (UFSCAR). São Carlos , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 12/25299-6 - Integrated studies for leaf cutting control, AP.TEM

Abstract

Recent UN data show that the world population by 2017 was 7.6 billion, and they suggest that by 2030 it should rise to 8.6 billion (United Nations, 2017). This information also shows the need to increase food, the area of cultivation of these and Integrated Pest Management (IPM) programs. Statistical studies show that the annual growth rate of biopesticides will reach 17.4%, totaling US $ 6.4 billion in 2020, becoming an efficient alternative for pest control in agriculture. The research developed so far in our group evaluated the efficacy and safety of plant extracts as potential natural pesticides, in order to use them as possible alternatives to synthetic pesticides. Several plants have been and are being studied, and in general, the results confirm the hypothesis that biopesticides have the potential to be used in the control of some pests, providing a promising alternative to the use of synthetic pesticides, especially since they present lower risks for the local environment. Rangpur lime (Citrus limonia Osbeck) is the key rootstock for citriculture in Brazil, with more than 80% of citrus trees being grafted. C. limonia trees, developed from the germination of seeds, can be grown in orchards in the presence of high disease and insect pressure, but they do not show foliar symptoms of the disease. Though commonly used in agriculture, the mechanisms through which rootstocks affect scion resistance to abiotic and biotic stress are not fully understood. The influence of the rootstock on the content of bioactive compounds in sweet orange, C. sinensis grafted on C. limonia, as well as the pathogen/plant interaction has been studied by our group. In both studies, it is necessary to know the chemical profile of the plant to understand the defense mechanism used by it in grafting and against phytopathogens. However, for a solid metabolomic study, it is necessary to compare the mass spectra and respective fragments obtained by MS-MS/MS with authentic samples. The search for standards is a simple work, but it allows introducing a graduate student in science chemistry (IC). He will be able to learn the principles of chromatography, spectrometric techniques for the identification of organic compounds such as IV, UV, NMR, and MS. He will be prepared to act in the area of Natural Products and other correlated, or even for jobs in companies that require the above knowledge.