“Effect of agroecological and conventional farming systems on the metabolomic profile of yellow and red maize assessed by 1H NMR”

TL;DR

This study shows that agroecological farming improves the nutritional quality of yellow and red maize by altering their metabolomic profiles compared to conventional farming.

Contribution

The study reveals variety-specific metabolic changes in maize under agroecological management, linking them to enhanced nutritional traits.

Findings

Agroecological management increased 17 metabolites in Zamorano yellow maize and 15 in Chalqueño red maize.

Metabolic pathways like the TCA cycle and amino acid biosynthesis were affected by agroecological practices.

OPLS-DA analysis successfully distinguished agroecological and conventional systems in a variety-dependent manner.

Abstract

The growing demand for nutritionally high-quality foods produced under sustainable schemes has driven evaluation of how agricultural systems influence maize chemical composition. Conventional agriculture relies heavily on chemical inputs, affecting environmental sustainability and grain quality, whereas agroecological systems represent a lower-impact alternative; however, their effects on the metabolome of native maize remain insufficiently understood. This study compared the metabolomic profiles of two native Mexican maize varieties, Zamorano yellow (MZ) and Chalqueño red (PR), cultivated under agroecological and conventional management. 1H NMR spectroscopy with PCA and OPLS-DA analyses was used to identify differential metabolites. Metabolic discrimination between management systems was observed. Agroecological management affected tricarboxylic acid cycle, pyruvate, and glyoxylate metabolism in MZ, and amino acid biosynthesis and sugar metabolism in PR, increasing the abundance of 17 metabolites in MZ and 15 in PR. These findings highlight the potential of agroecological management to enhance maize nutritional quality within sustainable production systems.

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•Agroecological management reprograms maize metabolism within each variety.•Zamorano maize accumulates organic acids, sugars, and GABA under agroecological management.•Red maize shows increased amino acids and phenolic precursors under agroecological management.•OPLS-DA discriminates agroecological and conventional systems in a variety-dependent manner.•Agroecological management enhances metabolic traits associated with grain nutritional quality.

Agroecological management reprograms maize metabolism within each variety.

Zamorano maize accumulates organic acids, sugars, and GABA under agroecological management.

Red maize shows increased amino acids and phenolic precursors under agroecological management.

OPLS-DA discriminates agroecological and conventional systems in a variety-dependent manner.

Agroecological management enhances metabolic traits associated with grain nutritional quality.

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