华中农业大学任喜峰团队近日取得一项新成果。经过不懈努力，他们的最新研究探明了代谢物-QTL分析揭示了大麦籽粒酚酸代谢的遗传基础。该项研究成果发表在2025年12月16日出版的《遗传学报》上。

课题组分析了大麦双单倍体（DH）群体成熟籽粒中检测到的39种酚酸代谢物，并进一步鉴定了与36种酚酸相关的154个代谢物数量性状位点（mQTLs），并建立了它们的定位方法。随后，该研究团队确定了12个影响酚酸代谢物含量的候选基因，其中一个候选基因HvCOMT-1在大麦中的过表达表明它参与了酚酸的合成。

此外，研究组发现转录因子HvMYB-1调节HvCOMT-1的表达。在拟南芥中的功能分析表明，HvCOMT-1增加茎粗和木质素沉积。进一步分析发现，HvCOMT-1的表达水平与大麦倒伏相关性状密切相关。综上所述，这些发现增强了对成熟大麦籽粒酚酸变异的遗传基础的认识，为大麦营养品质的遗传改良提供了有价值的参考。

据了解，酚酸代谢产物具有重要的生理功能，在几种作物中已经发现了许多影响酚酸代谢性状的遗传位点。虽然大麦是重要的谷类作物之一，但对大麦籽粒中酚酸合成的遗传基础的研究仍然有限。

附：英文原文

Title: Metabolite-QTL analysis reveals genetic basis of phenolic acid metabolism in barley grains

Author: Xifeng Ren a

Issue&Volume: 2025/12/16

Abstract: Phenolic acid metabolites have important physiological functions, and many genetic loci affecting phenolic acid metabolism traits have been identified in several crops. Although barley is one of the important cereal crops, research on the genetic basis of phenolic acid synthesis in barley grains remains limited. Here, we analyze the 39 phenolic acid metabolites detected in mature grains of barley double haploid (DH) population and further identify 154 metabolite quantitative trait loci (mQTLs) related to 36 phenolic acids using four mapping methods. Subsequently, we identify 12 candidate genes that affect the content of phenolic acid metabolites, and overexpression of one candidate gene, HvCOMT-1, in barley reveals its involvement in the synthesis of phenolic acids. Moreover, we show that the transcription factor HvMYB-1 regulate the expression of HvCOMT-1. Functional analysis in Arabidopsis shows that HvCOMT-1 increases stem diameter and lignin deposition. Further analysis reveals that the expression level of HvCOMT-1 is closely related to the barley lodging-related traits. Overall, our findings enhance the understanding of the genetic basis for phenolic acid variations in mature barley grains and provide valuable reference for genetic improvement of barley nutritional quality.

DOI: 10.1016/j.jgg.2025.12.004

Source: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S167385272500342X