Metabolome Analysis of Crops

Plant metabolomics deals with study of plants by measuring gene expression, protein interaction, and other different regulatory processes. Metabolomic studies are much closer to phenotypes than mRNA transcripts and proteins. Metabolite profiling approaches are used to study stress response of different plants. Metabolic profiling of phytomedicinal species is a powerful tool for quality control, yield optimization and to study environmental and ecological interactions. Metabolomics can be effectively used for the analysis of species lacking sequenced genome. Phenotype leans on intricate metabolic interactions of an organism and hence metabolomics is paramount for crop improvement in breeding programs. Complex polygenic inheritance of agronomic traits can be dissected through metabolic profiling. The chapter deals with application of different stresses and conditions on model crop plants and studying their effects on metabolites of these plants. A reference is made to metabolomic studies on wheat, rice, maize, sugarcane, barley, and cotton. Finally the chapter looks into the future prospects of metabolomic studies and their application for advanced research in plant sciences.