The role of insect pollination in shaping the chemical composition of edible plants: A Comparative Study on multiple fleshy fruit crops

Pollination plays a fundamental role in shaping the chemical features of edible plants, yet its impact remains largely underexplored compared to genetic and agronomic factors. Understanding how pollination influences phytochemical traits is essential for optimizing crop quality, nutritional value, and sustainability. This study investigates how insect pollination modulates the metabolic profile of blackberries, raspberries, and Solanaceae crops (cherry and date tomatoes, chili peppers) compared to self-pollination. Using a targeted, multi-matrix analytical approach, this study quantitatively evaluates the content of free sugars in blackberries, raspberries, and tomatoes, phenolic compounds in blackberries and raspberries, capsacinoids in chilli pepper, and carotenoids in Solanaceae fruits. Optimized extraction protocols combined with high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) coupled with UV, RID, FLD, and HRMS detection allow precise identification and quantification of these bioactive and sensory-impacting compounds. A comparative evaluation of pollination systems provides insights into the metabolic pathways most influenced by insect activity and their role in defining fruit quality. Preliminary analyses were conducted across all studied crops, assessing target analytes relevant to each matrix. These analyses ensured the exclusion of experimental confounding factors such as field-related biases, strengthening the reliability of subsequent comparisons. Cherry tomatoes and blackberries represent the first dataset where a complete analytical workflow has been applied, allowing an initial evaluation of the impact of pollination on metabolic composition. By unveiling how pollination shapes the phytochemical landscape of key crops, this study bridges a crucial gap in agri-food research, with significant implications for sustainable agriculture, functional food development, and the future of plant-based nutrition. Publication History Article published online: 05 March 2026 © 2026. Thieme. All rights reserved. Georg Thieme Verlag KG Oswald-Hesse-Straße 50, 70469 Stuttgart, Germany