Stereoselective effects of chiral epoxiconazole on the metabolomic and lipidomic profiling of leek

Epoxiconazole is widely used in agriculture to control plant diseases; however, its effect on the nutritional quality of crops is poorly understood. In the present study, the stereoselective effects of epoxiconazole and its enantiomers on leek metabolites and lipids were clarified using metabolomics and lipidomics based on ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry. Multivariate analysis revealed significant differences in 123 compounds of leek exposed to chiral epoxiconazole compared to the control group. The order of the degree of influence was (+)-epoxiconazole > racemic-epoxiconazole>(-)-epoxiconazole, indicating significant stereoselectivity. The differential expression of metabolites indicated the activation of stress defense systems, including the antioxidant defense system and signaling pathways and phenylpropanoid metabolism. Alterations in the levels of compounds associated with nutritional quality, such as Amino acids, Vitamins, Phenylpropanoids, Flavonoids and lipids indicated changes in the nutritional quality of leek. In general, the nutritional quality of leek decreased after exposure to epoxiconazole.

Epoxiconazole; Leek; Lipidomics; Metabolomics; Stereoselectivity.