Comparative metabolome and transcriptome analysis of foxtail millet cultivars with high and low grain quality

Consumer-driven demand for premium foxtail millet necessitates systematic identification of quality-determining metabolites. This investigation employed integrated metabolomic and transcriptomic analyses to compare two contrasting cultivars - the elite variety Jingu 21 (JG21) and traditional landrac...

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Main Authors: Yiru Zhang, Xinjie Yao, Pengyu Tian, Canran Zhang, Xiaodong Liu, Hongying Li, Yuanhuai Han
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2025-06-01
Series:Food Chemistry: Molecular Sciences
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Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666566225000206
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author Yiru Zhang
Xinjie Yao
Pengyu Tian
Canran Zhang
Xiaodong Liu
Hongying Li
Yuanhuai Han
author_facet Yiru Zhang
Xinjie Yao
Pengyu Tian
Canran Zhang
Xiaodong Liu
Hongying Li
Yuanhuai Han
author_sort Yiru Zhang
collection DOAJ
description Consumer-driven demand for premium foxtail millet necessitates systematic identification of quality-determining metabolites. This investigation employed integrated metabolomic and transcriptomic analyses to compare two contrasting cultivars - the elite variety Jingu 21 (JG21) and traditional landrace Niumaobai (NMB) - during two critical grain-filling stages. 552 metabolites were identified in both cultivars, with 144 showing differential abundance. Comparative analysis of early (S2) to late (S4) grain-filling stage revealed 108 co-regulated metabolites alongside 78 JG21-exclusive and 72 NMB-specific metabolites, exhibiting differential accumulation patterns likely governing quality divergence. Differential metabolites were predominantly enriched in flavonoid and phenylpropanoid pathways between cultivars, suggesting potential roles in modulating color, nutritional quality, and grain texture. Co-expression network predictions revealed cultivar-specific regulatory associations, with 10 candidate genes potentially governing six pigmentation/nutrition-related flavonoid metabolites, while another four genes showed tentative correlations with five lignin pathway intermediates that may contribute to grain texture variations between JG21 and NMB cultivars. These findings provide mechanistic insights into metabolic determinants of millet quality while establishing a framework for targeted breeding strategies to enhance both nutritional value and sensory characteristics in foxtail millet.
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institution DOAJ
issn 2666-5662
language English
publishDate 2025-06-01
publisher Elsevier
record_format Article
series Food Chemistry: Molecular Sciences
spelling doaj-art-63605af2103f4c0cbab660f96fb0aa762025-08-20T02:39:38ZengElsevierFood Chemistry: Molecular Sciences2666-56622025-06-011010025910.1016/j.fochms.2025.100259Comparative metabolome and transcriptome analysis of foxtail millet cultivars with high and low grain qualityYiru Zhang0Xinjie Yao1Pengyu Tian2Canran Zhang3Xiaodong Liu4Hongying Li5Yuanhuai Han6College of Biological Sciences and Technology, Taiyuan Normal University, Yuci, Shanxi 030619, China; Houji Laboratory in Shanxi Province, Shanxi Agricultural University, Taigu, Shanxi 030801, ChinaSchool of Agriculture, Ningxia University, Yinchuan, Ningxia 750021, ChinaCollege of Biological Sciences and Technology, Taiyuan Normal University, Yuci, Shanxi 030619, ChinaCollege of Biological Sciences and Technology, Taiyuan Normal University, Yuci, Shanxi 030619, ChinaSchool of Agriculture, Shanxi Agricultural University, Taigu, Shanxi 030801, China; Houji Laboratory in Shanxi Province, Shanxi Agricultural University, Taigu, Shanxi 030801, ChinaSchool of Agriculture, Shanxi Agricultural University, Taigu, Shanxi 030801, China; Houji Laboratory in Shanxi Province, Shanxi Agricultural University, Taigu, Shanxi 030801, ChinaSchool of Agriculture, Shanxi Agricultural University, Taigu, Shanxi 030801, China; Houji Laboratory in Shanxi Province, Shanxi Agricultural University, Taigu, Shanxi 030801, China; Corresponding author at: School of Agriculture, Shanxi Agricultural University, Taigu, Shanxi 030801, ChinaConsumer-driven demand for premium foxtail millet necessitates systematic identification of quality-determining metabolites. This investigation employed integrated metabolomic and transcriptomic analyses to compare two contrasting cultivars - the elite variety Jingu 21 (JG21) and traditional landrace Niumaobai (NMB) - during two critical grain-filling stages. 552 metabolites were identified in both cultivars, with 144 showing differential abundance. Comparative analysis of early (S2) to late (S4) grain-filling stage revealed 108 co-regulated metabolites alongside 78 JG21-exclusive and 72 NMB-specific metabolites, exhibiting differential accumulation patterns likely governing quality divergence. Differential metabolites were predominantly enriched in flavonoid and phenylpropanoid pathways between cultivars, suggesting potential roles in modulating color, nutritional quality, and grain texture. Co-expression network predictions revealed cultivar-specific regulatory associations, with 10 candidate genes potentially governing six pigmentation/nutrition-related flavonoid metabolites, while another four genes showed tentative correlations with five lignin pathway intermediates that may contribute to grain texture variations between JG21 and NMB cultivars. These findings provide mechanistic insights into metabolic determinants of millet quality while establishing a framework for targeted breeding strategies to enhance both nutritional value and sensory characteristics in foxtail millet.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666566225000206Foxtail milletGrain qualityGrain-filling stagesMetabolomeTranscriptome
spellingShingle Yiru Zhang
Xinjie Yao
Pengyu Tian
Canran Zhang
Xiaodong Liu
Hongying Li
Yuanhuai Han
Comparative metabolome and transcriptome analysis of foxtail millet cultivars with high and low grain quality
Food Chemistry: Molecular Sciences
Foxtail millet
Grain quality
Grain-filling stages
Metabolome
Transcriptome
title Comparative metabolome and transcriptome analysis of foxtail millet cultivars with high and low grain quality
title_full Comparative metabolome and transcriptome analysis of foxtail millet cultivars with high and low grain quality
title_fullStr Comparative metabolome and transcriptome analysis of foxtail millet cultivars with high and low grain quality
title_full_unstemmed Comparative metabolome and transcriptome analysis of foxtail millet cultivars with high and low grain quality
title_short Comparative metabolome and transcriptome analysis of foxtail millet cultivars with high and low grain quality
title_sort comparative metabolome and transcriptome analysis of foxtail millet cultivars with high and low grain quality
topic Foxtail millet
Grain quality
Grain-filling stages
Metabolome
Transcriptome
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666566225000206
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