Direct analysis in real-time (DART) time-of-flight mass spectrometry (TOFMS) of wood reveals distinct chemical signatures of two species of Afzelia

Distinct chemical fingerprints of the wood Afzelia pachyloba and A. bipindensis demonstrated an effective method for identifying these two commercially important species. Direct analysis in real-time (DART) time-of-flight mass spectrometry (TOFMS) allowed high-throughput examination chemotypes with vast potential taxonomic, ecological, forensic research wood. is a genus valuable tropical timber trees. Accurate identification required prevention illicit trade as well certification purposes forest products industry. For many years, particular interest has been focused on attempts to distinguish Harms from due substantial differences commercial values We investigated if signatures microscopy could identify pachyloba. used approaches, namely metabolome profiling by direct microstructure light SEM. In all, we analyzed samples 89 trees bipindensis, The species not be separated IAWA standard microscopic features. SEM showed considerable variation morphology vestured pits; however, this was species-specific. contrast, DART-TOFMS followed unsupervised statistics (Discriminant Analysis Principal Components) distinct provides rapid that can easily applied small heartwood samples. Time- cost-effective classification have applications various questions forestry, science, tree-ecophysiology, forensics.