Assessment of germination, phytochemicals, and transcriptional responses to ethephon priming in soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merrill]

Optimization of the germination time of proso and foxtail millets to enhance the bioactive properties, antioxidant activity, and enzymatic power and reduce antinutritional factor

The germination of millets is a traditional yet underutilized method to enhance their nutritional and functional attributes. This study investigates the impact of germination time on the bioactive, enzymatic, and antinutritional properties of proso millet (Chino Dude) and foxtail millet (Kaguno Red and Kaguno White) varieties. Germination was conducted over five days (0-5 days), and changes in total phenolic and flavonoid content, tannin content, antioxidant activity, diastatic power, α-amylase activity, reducing sugars, and trypsin inhibition activity were measured. A two-way ANOVA revealed significant effects (p < 0.05) of varietal differences and germination time on these properties. Total phenolic and flavonoid content and antioxidant activity increased significantly (p < 0.05) unit day 3 of germination after which it decreased until day 5. Tannin content and trypsin inhibitor decreased significantly (p < 0.05) from day 1 to day 5 of germination, whereas diastatic power and α-amylase increased (p < 0.05) with an increase in germination time. The optimal germination time was determined to be 3.46 days using multiple regression models to maximize bioactive compounds and enzymatic activity while minimizing antinutritional factors. Moreover, Kaguno Red exhibited the highest bioactive levels, while Kaguno White had the lowest trypsin inhibition activity, indicating varietal-specific differences in analyzed parameters. This study highlights the potential of tailored germination strategies to enhance the nutritional and functional profiles of millets, providing actionable insights for functional food development in regions reliant on millet as a staple crop.

Effects of seasonal climates and MIPS1 mutations on soybean germination through multi-omics analysis

This study delves into the combined effects of seasonal climate variations and MIPS1 gene mutations on the germination rates of soybean cultivars TW-1 and TW75. Through comprehensive metabolomic and transcriptomic analyses, we identified key KEGG pathways significantly affected by these factors, including starch and sucrose metabolism, lipid metabolism, and amino acid biosynthesis. These pathways were notably disrupted during the spring, leading to an imbalance in metabolic reserves critical for seedling development. Additionally, MIPS1 gene mutations further altered these pathways, exacerbating the metabolic disturbances. Our results underscore the intricate network of environmental and genetic interactions influencing soybean seed vigor and underscore the importance of understanding these pathways to enhance agricultural resilience and seed quality in fluctuating climates.

Enhancing salicylic acid levels by its exogenous pretreatment to mitigate Fusarium oxysporum-induced biotic stress in Vigna mungo: defense pathways insights

KEY MESSAGE

Fusarium oxysporum disrupts redox homeostasis in Vigna mungo, likely by interfering with salicylic acid signaling, which can be ameliorated by boosting PAL and its related pathways via salicylic acid pretreatment. Fusarium oxysporum, a widespread soil-borne fungus, significantly threatens global crops. This study centers on elucidating the infection strategies employed by F. oxysporum against a new and underexplored host Vigna mungo, a leguminous crop of high agronomic value, and the defense mechanisms that can be activated against the infection, aiming to uncover how these responses can be leveraged to develop potential countermeasures. Building on prior work demonstrating the in vitro antifungal efficacy of phytohormones, including salicylic acid (SA), this study further investigates SA pretreatment at 100 µM, which previously reduced reactive oxygen species (ROS) and improved germination under Fusarium stress. Through a comprehensive analysis of V. mungo plants pretreated with SA and subjected to F. oxysporum infection, we observed that fungal exposure reduced growth, chlorophyll content, and levels of proteins, phenolics and flavonoids, while increasing stress markers and antioxidant activity. SA pretreatment mitigated these effects by boosting antioxidant molecules and activating the phenylalanine ammonia-lyase (PAL) pathway, thereby enhancing endogenous SA and ROS scavenging. Furthermore, qRT-PCR analysis confirmed SA-mediated upregulation of antioxidant (catalase and peroxidase), fungal stress response genes ((pathogenesis-related gene 4 (PR4) and defensin (DEF)) and SA synthesis and regulator genes (PAL and WRKY70) involved in plant systemic resistance, while LC-MS data revealed an altered metabolic profile with increased phytoalexins and antioxidants synthesis. Overall, SA pretreatment confers resistance against F. oxysporum in V. mungo by modulating endogenous SA and metabolic profile to activate key defense pathways and redox homeostasis, highlighting its potential in plant defense strategies and reinforcing our proposed model of SA action.

Harnessing Multi-Omics Strategies and Bioinformatics Innovations for Advancing Soybean Improvement: A Comprehensive Review

Soybean improvement has entered a new era with the advent of multi-omics strategies and bioinformatics innovations, enabling more precise and efficient breeding practices. This comprehensive review examines the application of multi-omics approaches in soybean-encompassing genomics, transcriptomics, proteomics, metabolomics, epigenomics, and phenomics. We first explore pre-breeding and genomic selection as tools that have laid the groundwork for advanced trait improvement. Subsequently, we dig into the specific contributions of each -omics field, highlighting how bioinformatics tools and resources have facilitated the generation and integration of multifaceted data. The review emphasizes the power of integrating multi-omics datasets to elucidate complex traits and drive the development of superior soybean cultivars. Emerging trends, including novel computational techniques and high-throughput technologies, are discussed in the context of their potential to revolutionize soybean breeding. Finally, we address the challenges associated with multi-omics integration and propose future directions to overcome these hurdles, aiming to accelerate the pace of soybean improvement. This review serves as a crucial resource for researchers and breeders seeking to leverage multi-omics strategies for enhanced soybean productivity and resilience.