What Happens Inside the Germinating Grain After Microbial Decontamination by Pulsed Electric Field? Data-Driven...

Area of Science:

• Food Science and Technology
• Plant Pathology
• Molecular Biology

Background:

• Toxigenic Fusarium micromycetes pose a threat during barley malting.
• Pulsed electric field (PEF) is a gentle processing method with potential for fungal reduction.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the effects of PEF on gene expression and metabolite production in barley during malting.
• To understand PEF's role in combating Fusarium fungal infections.

Main Methods:

• Utilized a multi-omics data-driven approach.
• Analyzed gene expression and metabolite profiles in germinated barley grains subjected to PEF treatment and/or fungal infection.

Main Results:

• PEF upregulated genes encoding vegetative gp1-like protein, correlating with increased flavonoids, (methylsulfanyl)prop-2-enoates, triterpenoid glycosides, and indole alkaloids.
• Some barley resistance genes (e.g., ethylene response factor 3-like) were upregulated in the untreated control, indicating differential responses to fungal infection and PEF stress.

Conclusions:

• PEF shows promise as an effective strategy for fungal decontamination in barley malting.
• The study provides foundational data for new hypotheses on Fusarium pathogen interactions and PEF's influence.