Metabolomics and Metabolic Engineering in Plants: From Omics to Agronomics

Metabolomics and metabolic engineering are at the forefront of modern plant science, offering powerful avenues to understand and manipulate plant biochemistry. Metabolomics, a key component of 'omics' research, provides a high-resolution, system-wide analysis of the complete set of small-molecule metabolites within a biological sample. This comprehensive metabolic fingerprinting allows for the elucidation of complex biochemical networks, providing unprecedented insights into plant development, stress responses, and the biosynthesis of valuable secondary metabolites. Building upon this knowledge, metabolic engineering employs targeted genetic and biotechnological strategies to reconfigure metabolic pathways. This precise manipulation enables the rational design of plants with enhanced nutritional profiles, improved resilience to biotic and abiotic stresses, and optimized production of pharmaceuticals, biofuels, and other high-value compounds. The integration of these two disciplines, from discovery-driven omics to application-oriented engineering, is crucial for translating fundamental scientific breakthroughs into tangible agronomic advancements, thereby addressing critical global challenges related to food security and sustainable agriculture.The primary problem this Research Topic addresses is the urgent need to efficiently and sustainably enhance plant traits for both agriculture and medicine. While traditional breeding has been successful, it is often slow and limited by a plant's natural genetic variation. We face growing global challenges such as food security, climate change, and the increasing demand for plant-derived medicines. The "omics" revolution has generated a vast amount of data, but a significant gap exists in translating this knowledge into practical, field-ready solutions. To achieve this, the Research Topic will employ a two-pronged scientific approach. First, we will invite papers utilizing advanced metabolomics platforms—such as high-resolution mass spectrometry and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy—to comprehensively profile plant metabolomes under various conditions. This will identify key metabolic pathways and regulatory genes responsible for desirable traits like enhanced nutrient content, drought tolerance, or the biosynthesis of specific medicinal compounds. Second, we will solicit research that employs cutting-edge metabolic engineering techniques, including CRISPR-Cas-based gene editing, synthetic biology, and transcription factor engineering, to precisely modify these identified pathways. By integrating these approaches, we can accelerate the development of 'designer' crops and medicinal plants, bridging the gap between fundamental metabolic discoveries and their application in breeding programs and pharmaceutical production for a more directed and efficient strategy for crop improvement and natural product development.1. Metabolomics-driven discovery of plant metabolites and novel plant compounds in crop and medicinally important plants2. Genetic engineering of metabolic pathways for enhanced crop resilience and yield.3. Systems biology approaches to understand complex metabolic networks in plants.4. Biofortification of crops to improve nutritional value.5. Engineering of medicinal plants to boost production of high-value phytochemicals.We are interested in Original Research, Reviews, and Methods articles. Topic editors: Rakesh Kumar, Pawan Shukla, Santisree Parankusam, Dr. Anirudh Kumar Source: https://www.frontiersin.org/research-topics/73799/metabolomics-and-metabolic-engineering-in-plants-from-omics-to-agronomics