Metabolic Architecture of Developing Seeds and Grains

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Background

Developing seeds synthesize and store valuable compounds that play vital roles in embryogenesis, maturation, dehydration, germination (carbohydrates, lipids, proteins), and defense against biotic stresses (specialized metabolites). In parallel, many of these compounds became or are on the way of becoming important for: i) human nutrition and health with essential amino acids and fatty acids, phenolics, alkaloids; ii) diverse industrial applications, including thickening gums, lubricants, coatings, and plastics; and iii) renewable source of biofuels like bioethanol from starch, and biodiesel and aviation fuel from storage oils. Understanding the synthesis and metabolism of these compounds is therefore relevant to seed yield and quality, and to improving their production through breeding and/or genetic manipulation.

Grains and seeds can be considered as biochemical factories for the production of valuable molecules. They receive substrates/metabolites that transfer from the vegetative tissues, which plays a major role in the synthesis or accumulation of many compounds. Although developing grains and seeds have a common primary metabolism, recent studies have demonstrated the action of alternative pathways and particular enzymes, the presence of unusual or specialized metabolites, the expression of specific transcription factors and genes, the difference in C, N, S and P partitioning, etc. All these attributes not only highlight the metabolic diversity between seeds of different species but also their exceptional potential as biochemical factories.

This Research Topic will gather key contributors in the field of seed metabolism, providing new insights into the synthesis of valuable compounds. We welcome manuscripts using biochemical, physiological, genomics, transcriptomics, proteomics, metabolomics, fluxomics, and metabolic engineering approaches to better understand and/or improve:

- seed/grain development
- seed/grain nutritional and health value for human and animal diet.
- seed/grain components with industrial and bioenergy value.

We encourage the submission of the following article types: Original Research, Methods, Reviews, Mini Reviews, and Opinions as defined in the Frontiers journal's "Article Types" page.

Topic Editor Enrique Martinez-Force has research projects with ADVANTA Seeds and BUNGE Loders Croklaan companies on high-stearic sunflower; with Cargill on high-palmitic sunflower, and with EUROGENETIC S.A. and GENETIC RESOURCES INC. on development of long fiber cottonseeds. All other topic editors declare no competing interests with regards to the Research Topic subject.

Keywords: Seed, Grain, Metabolism, Fatty Acids, Amino Acids, Carbohydrates, Storage Proteins, Storage Compounds, Specialized Metabolites, Endosperm, Embryo, Seed Coat, Cuticle.

Important note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.

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