The biosynthesis of the monoterpene (
S)-linalool and the sesquiterpene
trans-(
S)-nerolidol in fruitsof
Fragaria ×
ananassa Duch. cv. Eros and Florence and of the monoterpene (-)-
-pinene in
Fragariavesca was investigated by in vivo feeding experiments with [5,5-
2H
2]mevalonic acid lactone (d
2-MVL)and [5,5-
2H
2]-1-deoxy-
D-xylulose (d
2-DOX). The feeding experiments indicate that (
S)-linalool and
trans-(
S)-nerolidol in
Fragaria ×
ananassa Duch. and (-)-
-pinene in
F. vesca are exclusivelysynthesized via the cytosolic mevalonic acid pathway without any contribution from the plastidial1-deoxy-
D-xylulose/2-C-methyl-D-erythritol 4-phosphate (DOXP/MEP) route. Inhibition experimentsrevealed that even the presence of mevastatin, an export of plastid-derived isopentyl diphosphate/dimethylallyl diphosphate, cannot be induced. However, the enantioselective analysis shows that in
Fragaria ×
ananassa Duch. cv. Eros and Florence both linalool enantiomers are present and thatonly (
S)-linalool is labeled after administration of d
2-MVL. Therefore, the origin of (
R)-linalool in thesefruits remains unknown. Contrarily, in
Fragaria ×
ananassa Duch. foliage (
R)-linalool is the dominantenantiomer. Feeding experiments revealed an incorporation of d
2-MVL and d
2-DOX at equal ratesexclusively into (
S)-linalool. Only in
F. vesca foliage, where (
R)-linalool is present at high enantiomericpurity (ee > 90%), is a de novo biosynthesis of the (
R)-enantiomer via the DOXP/MEP pathwaydetectable. These results demonstrate a complex intraplant variation of (
R)- and (S)-linaloolbiosynthesis via the cytosolic and plastidial route.Keywords: Rosaceae; fruit flavor; terpenes; non-mevalonate pathway; stir bar sorptive extraction(SBSE); thermal desorption-enantioselective multidimensional gas chromatography-mass spectrometry(TD-enantio-MDGC-MS)