Temporal dynamics of metabolite accumulation and carbon–nitrogen reprogramming during wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) grain development
摘要
Seed development strongly shapes grain yield and quality, yet metabolic regulation during wheat grain filling remains insufficiently resolved. We conducted a temporal metabolite analysis in Triticum aestivum var. Borlaug-2016 using GC–MS profiling and ^13 C-sucrose flux analysis across five stages (10, 21, 32, 44, and 55 DAF). Thirty-six metabolites—including amino acids, fatty acids, sterols, and organic acids—were quantified. The dataset reveals previously unreported biphasic behavior in organic acids and transient mid- to late-stage peaks in aromatic amino acids, indicating new metabolic checkpoints. Glutamine and asparagine increased continuously, whereas phenylalanine peaked at 32–44 DAF, aligning with protein accumulation. Fatty acids (oleate, linoleate) and sterols (sitosterol, campesterol) accumulated sharply at 55 DAF, reflecting coordinated lipid and membrane maturation. Flux analysis shows a shift from glycolysis and amino acid biosynthesis early to lipid and sterol biosynthesis during maturation, indicating integrated carbon–nitrogen reprogramming. Together, these metabolite and flux signatures provide mechanistic insight into temporal metabolic regulation and identify stage-specific markers and targets for improving wheat yield, quality, and stress resilience.