Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 27, 2026
07:10
Untargeted Liquid Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry-Based Metabolomics Analysis of Wheat Grain
Published on: March 13, 2020
Metabolomics-assisted breeding: a viable option for crop improvement?
Alisdair R Fernie1, Nicolas Schauer
1Max-Planck-Institute für Molekulare Pfanzenphysiologie, Am Mühlenberg 1, 14476 Potsdam-Golm, Germany. fernie@mpimp-golm.mpg.de
Trends in Genetics : TIG
|November 26, 2008
Summary
Metabolomics helps identify genetic factors influencing plant chemical traits. This approach aids in crop improvement through genomics-assisted selection.
Area of Science:
- Plant science
- Biochemistry
- Genetics
Background:
- Metabolomics enables parallel assessment of metabolite levels in plants.
- It is valuable for plant phenotyping and diagnostics.
- Recent focus on natural variation in plant metabolite composition.
Purpose of the Study:
- To describe progress in identifying genetic determinants of plant chemical composition.
- To highlight the application of metabolomics strategies.
- To showcase integration with other high-throughput technologies.
Main Methods:
- Application of metabolomics strategies.
- Integration with high-throughput technologies.
- Analysis of natural variation in metabolite composition.
Main Results:
- Exciting progress in identifying genetic determinants of plant chemical composition.
- Demonstration of metabolomics application in this area.
- Successful integration with other high-throughput technologies.
Conclusions:
- Metabolomics is a valuable tool for understanding plant chemical diversity.
- It aids in identifying genetic factors controlling metabolite levels.
- Metabolomics enhances genomics-assisted selection for crop improvement.
Related Concept Videos
01:59Plant Breeding and Biotechnology
Crop cultivation has a long history in human civilization, with records showing the cultivation of cereal plants beginning at around 8000 BC. This early plant breeding was developed primarily to provide a steady supply of food.
01:40Overview of Metabolism
Living cells constantly carry out various chemical reactions which are necessary for their proper functioning. These reactions are interlinked to one another via multiple pathways. The collection of these chemical reactions is known as metabolism.
Plant Metabolism
Sunlight, the primary source of energy in plants, is first absorbed by the chlorophyll pigments present in their leaves. Plants then use this energy to carry out photosynthesis, where water is oxidized into oxygen and carbon dioxide...
Plant Metabolism
Sunlight, the primary source of energy in plants, is first absorbed by the chlorophyll pigments present in their leaves. Plants then use this energy to carry out photosynthesis, where water is oxidized into oxygen and carbon dioxide...
01:22Bioreactor Controls-III
Strain improvement is a foundational strategy in industrial microbiology aimed at maximizing microbial productivity, particularly because natural isolates typically yield commercially valuable products in very low concentrations. Although optimizing the culture medium and environmental conditions can improve yields, these adjustments are inherently limited by the organism’s genetic potential. As a result, the focus shifts toward genetic modifications to enhance biosynthetic capacity. The...
01:20The Central Dogma
The central dogma explains the flow of genetic information from DNA nucleotides to the amino acid sequence of proteins.
RNA is the Missing Link Between DNA and Proteins
In the early 1900s, scientists discovered that DNA stores all the information needed for cellular functions and that proteins perform most of these functions. However, the mechanisms of converting genetic information into functional proteins remained unknown for many years. Initially, it was believed that a single gene is...
RNA is the Missing Link Between DNA and Proteins
In the early 1900s, scientists discovered that DNA stores all the information needed for cellular functions and that proteins perform most of these functions. However, the mechanisms of converting genetic information into functional proteins remained unknown for many years. Initially, it was believed that a single gene is...