About this Research Topic
This research topic aims to collate studies on the use of metabolomics to decipher and explore biochemical mechanisms in the agroecosystem towards climate-smart agriculture. A holistic understanding of biochemical mechanisms and intra- and inter-kingdom signaling is required to decipher the components of an agroecosystem, towards devising appropriate mitigation strategies. Global metabolomics/discovery approaches are at the crux of this understanding, leading to hypotheses-driven/targeted interrogation. The main objectives include elucidating the biochemical pathways that contribute to greenhouse gas emissions and identifying potential mitigation strategies through metabolomics.
To gather further insights into the biochemical mechanisms within agroecosystems, we welcome articles addressing, but not limited to, the following themes:
• Soil metabolomics and soil-microbe-plant interactions pertaining to root exudates, chemical legacy/allelopathic effects in succession and mixed planting regimes, nitrogen fixation, biological nitrification inhibition, carbon assimilation in soil, volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in intra-kingdom crosstalk, and similar soil-related mechanisms.
• Screening and breeding of plant species and germplasm to elucidate biochemical mechanisms that promote better nitrogen use efficiency, reduce methane production in ruminants, and enhance palatability and digestion in animals.
• Changes in animal metabolism (specifically rumen) driven by different breeds and feeds. These feeds include additives, bio-actives, and concentrates aimed at lowering methane production and nitrous oxide emissions; as well as the application of biomarkers to diagnose these metabolic changes for rapid on-farm animal screening.
Keywords: metabolomics, plant breeding, soil-microbe-plant interactions, animal nutrition
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.