Accurate and robust method for plant volatilome analysis by GC-MS

Plants continuously release volatile organic compounds (VOCs) belonging to distinct chemical classes, which are involved in various biological and ecological functions. Furthermore, the VOC profile contributes to the organoleptic properties of plants, influencing their commercial value in the food markets. The composition of VOCs varies with the species, the phenology and can also vary in response to different stimuli to which the plant is subjected, leading to the emission of different molecules or very subtle variations of concentration, resulting in a great variability in the collected samples. Consequently, the sample collection method and analysis must be robust and reliable, to minimize the uncertainty that affects the results. This work proposes a quantitative GC–MS method, the gold standard for identifying and quantifying VOCs molecules that was optimized and validated following the AOAC Guidelines for fifteen analytes typically present in Solanum lycopersicum (tomato plant). The focus in the validation was also addressed to the optimization of the collection procedure that is the most critical point from the point of view of the repeatability and reproducibility. The validated method has then been applied to the study of real tomato plants volatilome, collected with the tailored and optimised setup. The method developed in this study serves as a highly reliable analytical tool for characterizing plant volatilome. By integrating optimized protocols for GC–MS with meticulous validation processes, this approach enhances our ability to investigate plant secondary metabolism and its ecological significance.