High-throughput metabolic fingerprinting for stress resistance screening in plant breeding (KB-53-000-019)

This project aims to develop a high-throughput LC–MS Orbitrap metabolomics pipeline to support early detection of resistance traits in plant breeding. As breeding for resistance to pests, diseases, and abiotic stress becomes increasingly important under climate change, there is a growing need for rapid, data-driven tools to detect beneficial traits before field testing. Metabolite profiles contain valuable biochemical signals that reflect plant responses to stress and genetic background. By linking these profiles to known resistance markers or QTLs, breeders can identify promising lines earlier in the selection cycle.

The project has three core objectives: (1) to establish a fast and scalable LC–MS workflow for leaf material from breeding lines; (2) to identify metabolic patterns and candidate markers associated with resistance using one model crop and stress types; and (3) to deliver a user-ready toolkit including SOPs, example marker panels, and a visual dashboard protoytpe  for breeders.

Activities in 2026 include: selection of relevant crop and stress system in collaboration with WR Plant Breeding; development of a short–run LC–MS method using dual-polarity profiling and rapid sampling; stress trials on contrasting genotypes; data analysis using multivariate statistics and molecular networking; and visualization of key results through an interactive dashboard.

Expected results include a validated LC–MS workflow, stress-responsive metabolite lists linked to resistance traits, and a breeder-oriented toolkit for follow-up testing. This platform supports integration of metabolomics into practical breeding workflows and contributes to faster, more targeted development of resilient crop varieties.

The impact lies in reducing time and cost associated with resistance screening, improving selection accuracy, and increasing the adoption of omics technologies by breeding programs. The approach is scalable and adaptable to different crops and regions, with potential for future international partnerships and PPS-based follow-up projects.