Agricultural Success is Essential to Sustaining the World’s Population
The human population is dependent upon the agriculture sector having good and sustainable practices and solutions that ultimately yield an adequate food supply to feed and nourish the world’s ever-rising population. Crop plants are not only grown and harvested for subsistence but also have a multitude of other uses including animal feed, ornamental, and industrial (fiber, oil, etc.). A variety of plants are grown for therapeutic products like herbs, supplements, and pharmaceuticals. Increased pressure on agricultural production caused by diminishing natural resources, environmental stressors (ie, both abiotic and biotic), and resistance to commonly used pesticides negatively impact crop productivity, yields, and distributions.
Meeting the needs of the world’s population for food crops, animal feed, and plant-derived therapeutic and industrial products is highly complex. Successful crop productivity and yields, in part, rely on the farmer’s knowledge of land preparation, accurate weather forecasting, disease prevention, soil health, crop rotation schedules, weed and pest control, optimal irrigation strategies, and the use of high-quality seeds. Agriculture success also hinges upon scientific innovations and technology derived from learnings, insights, and research conducted by partners in academia and industry. Delivering solutions with essential mechanistic insights is crucial to overcoming the challenges of supplying the rising population with a sustainable and economically viable food supply, animal feed, and vital therapeutic and industrial products.
Conventional Strategies Provide an Incomplete Picture of Functional Mechanisms Involved in Seed Vigor & Plant Biology
Metabolites Reflect Phenotypic Traits of Seeds and Crop Plants
Metabolon Provides Comprehensive Biochemical Profiling
Metabolomics provides a snapshot of all biochemicals present in a sample by identifying, quantifying, and mapping each metabolite in the system. This provides our clients with unique biological insight into the fundamental nature of any seed or plant trait in relation to both genetics (trait development, biodiversity, gene expression, mutations, genetic engineering, etc.) and the environment (abiotic stress, disease, nutrition, etc.). Researchers are using this deep fundamental insight as a critical tool for engineering solutions to meet the agricultural demands of our growing planet.
Metabolon is a leader in global metabolomics, having performed hundreds of plant- and agriculture-related studies. Metabolomic agricultural applications include:
- Biomarkers for traits: yield, heterosis, quality
- Mutant analysis and gene function characterization
- Transgene analysis: Equivalence, Engineered pathway performance
- Abiotic stress response: heat, drought, nitrogen utilization, etc
- Plant disease
- Biofuels and plant derived chemicals optimization
- Seed and plant development characterization
- Germplasm diversity and fitness
- Plant nutrition
See how Metabolon can advance your path to preclinical and clinical insights
Metabolomics Panels for Agricultural Applications
Global Discovery Panel
Amino Acids Targeted Panel
Central Carbons Targeted Panel
Complex Lipids Targeted Panel
Metabolon in Action
Metabolic and Gene Expression Hallmarks of Seed Germination
Metabolon’s nontargeted global metabolomics profiling revealed stress-induced changes in seed metabolism, which can provide novel potential metabolic hallmarks of germination.
Adapting Fruit Production to Climate Change
The research team utilized global metabolomics to identify unique metabolites and developed targeted panels for these metabolites, which could later be used as suitable biomarkers, indicating the transition between phenological phases, such as endodormancy, ecodormancy, and ontogenetic development. This knowledge contributes to the overall understanding of phenological traits, which is critical for tree crops. Most importantly, this robust dataset can help elucidate the mechanisms and biochemical pathways associated with the dormancy phases of sweet cherry trees.
Interested in Further Studies?
Why Metabolon?
Once you see the full value of metabolomics, the only remaining question is who does it best? While many laboratories have metabolite profiling or analytical chemistry capabilities, comprehensive metabolomics technologies are extremely rare. Accurate, unbiased metabolite identification across the entire metabolome introduces signal-to-noise challenges that very few labs are equipped to handle. Also, translating massive quantities of data into actionable information is slow, if not impossible, for most because proper interpretation takes two things that are in short supply: experience and a comprehensive database.
Only Metabolon has all four core metabolomics capabilities
Coverage
Ability to interrogate thousands of metabolites across diverse biochemical space, revealing new insights and opportunities
Comparability
Ability to integrate the data from different studies into the same dataset, in different geographies, among different patients over time
Competency
Ability to inform on proper study design, generate high‐quality data, derive biological insights, and make actionable recommendations
Capacity
Ability to process hundreds of thousands of samples quickly and cost‐efficiently to service rapidly growing demand
Partner with Metabolon to access:
A library of 5,400+ known metabolites, 2,000 in human plasma, all referenced in the context of biochemical pathways
- That’s 5x the metabolites of the closest competitor
Unparalleled depth and breadth of experience analyzing and interpreting metabolomic data to find meaningful results
- 10,000+ projects with hundreds of clients
- 2,000+ publications covering 500 diseases, including numerous peer-reviewed journals such as Cell, Nature and Science
- Nearly 40 PhDs in data science, molecular biology, and biochemistry
Using our robust platform and visualization tools, our experts are uniquely able to tell you more about your molecule and develop assay panels to help you zero in on the results you need.
Related Agricultural Metabolomics Resources
Contact Us
Talk with an expert
Request a quote for our services, get more information on sample types and handling procedures, request a letter of support, or submit a question about how metabolomics can advance your research.
Corporate Headquarters
617 Davis Drive, Suite 100
Morrisville, NC 27560
Mailing Address:
P.O. Box 110407
Research Triangle Park, NC 27709
