Metabolomics Resources and Reference Databases for Economically Valuable Plant Species

Recent advances in mass spectrometry imaging, AI-assisted data processing, and other analytical platforms have significantly expanded what plant metabolomics can measure. However, the reference metabolome databases and knowledge bases needed to annotate, store and interpret that data have not kept pace. Species-specific resources exist, such as reference metabolome data tied to rutin biosynthesis in buckwheat or amino acid traits in soybean, yet they are typically built independently of the groups developing the underlying analytical platforms and rarely reference one another. This disconnects leaves researchers without a shared, interoperable way to compare metabolomic findings across species or link new measurements to existing pathway knowledge.This Research Topic aims to bridge that gap by bringing together researchers developing novel metabolomics measurement technologies (mass spectrometry-based, spatially resolved, and AI/deep-learning-assisted platforms) and researchers building or curating reference metabolome databases and knowledgebases for applied plant species. The goal is a shared venue where analytical innovation and database infrastructure inform each other directly, so new measurement capability translates more quickly into interpretable, reusable metabolomic resources for economically valuable crops, medicinal plants, and industrial species.This Research Topic welcomes contributions on:• Novel mass spectrometry, spatial imaging, or AI-assisted metabolomics platforms and their validation• Construction, curation, or comparative analysis of reference metabolome databases and knowledgebases• Metabolite annotation and identification methods for applied plant species• Case studies applying such platforms or databases in crops (e.g., buckwheat, soybean, rice), medicinal plants, or industrial species• Data standards or interoperability strategies connecting metabolomics resources across speciesWe invite Original Research, Methods, Review, Mini Review, Perspective, and FAIR² Data articles. Topic editors: Yinghao Cao, Dong Xu, Ning Yang Source: https://www.frontiersin.org/research-topics/86202/metabolomics-resources-and-reference-databases-for-economically-valuable-plant-species