Lipidomic approach to the analysis of Persea americana Mill. cv. from the northern subregion of the department of Caldas

Aim: Colombia’s economy relies heavily on agriculture, with Hass avocado (Persea americana) playing a key role. This fruit consists of exocarp, mesocarp, and endocarp, with the mesocarp being the most consumed part due to its rich composition of saturated and unsaturated fatty acids (omegas), which offer valuable nutritional properties. This study analyzed the lipid composition of Hass avocado from the northern subregion of the Caldas department and evaluated the variability in lipid content across cultivation zones based on metabolite profiles. Methods: Lipids were extracted from avocado samples, derivatized, and analyzed using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) for lipidome characterization. Statistical analyses determined fat content variability across zones, and metabolic pathways involved in lipid biosynthesis were explored. Results: Fat content ranged from 10.27% to 59.04%, with significant differences observed between cultivation zones (ANOVA: p = 0.0102 for Aranzazu Business 1; p = 0.03918 for Salamina Business 1). GC-MS analysis identified 143 chromatographic signals, including 60 known metabolites, with major fatty acids such as myristic, palmitic, tridecanoic, palmitoleic (omega-7), and oleic (omega-9) acids. The identified functional groups comprised 28.3% alkanes, 21.7% aldehydes, 18.3% esters (derivatives of the derivatization process), and 11.7% alcohols. The observed regional lipid variability suggests that environmental and agronomic factors modulate fatty acid biosynthesis, potentially through adjustments in pathways such as the mevalonate route. Conclusions: This lipidomic approximation confirms the presence of bioactive omega-7 and omega-9 fatty acids, reinforcing the nutritional significance of Hass avocado and highlighting its potential cardiovascular benefits. The demonstrated variability across cultivation zones emphasizes the influence of local environmental conditions on lipid profiles. These findings contribute to the understanding of avocado lipid metabolism and provide valuable insights for optimizing cultivation practices, improving fruit quality, and informing functional food development.