Fermented minor grain (MG) foods often have unique nutritional value and functional characteristics, which are important for developing dietary culture worldwide. As a kind of special raw material in fermented food, minor grains have special functional components, such as trace elements, dietary fiber, and polyphenols. Fermented MG foods have excellent nutrients, phytochemicals, and bioactive compounds and are consumed as a rich source of probiotic microbes. Thus, the purpose of this review is to introduce the latest progress in research related to the fermentation products of MGs. Specific discussion is focused on the classification of fermented MG foods and their nutritional and health implications, including studies of microbial diversity, functional components, and probiotic potential. Furthermore, this review discusses how mixed fermentation of grain mixtures is a better method for developing new functional foods to increase the nutritional value of meals based on cereals and legumes in terms of dietary protein and micronutrients.

Background: Astragalus membranaceus (Fisch.) Bunge is a globally significant medicinal plant renowned for its potent immunomodulatory and antioxidant properties. However, the existing reference genome for this species remains incomplete, characterized by fragmented assemblies and the absence of centromeric and telomeric regions, thereby limiting comprehensive exploration of the genetic mechanisms underlying its key traits. Findings: We hereby present the first complete genome assembly for A. membranaceus (Fisch.) Bge “AM-T2T,” achieved through the integration of PacBio HiFi, ultra-long Oxford Nanopore Technologies, and Hi-C sequencing. The assembly achieved a total size of 1.39 Gb with an N50 of 180.45 Mb. The genome exhibits remarkable completeness (99.63% BUSCO completeness; long terminal repeat assembly index of 22.67) and high accuracy (quality value of 57.51; Genome Continuity Inspector score of 36.23). It features annotations of 64.22% repetitive sequences, 16 telomeres, 8 centromeres, 32,600 high-confident genes, 248 cytochrome P450 monooxygenases (CYP450s), and 163 uridine diphosphate glycosyltransferases. Notably, 158.58 Mb of previously unassembled regions were resolved, harboring 4 CYP450s. Additionally, 2,267 unique genes and 20,652 conserved genes were identified within the AM-T2T genome. Comparative analysis with Astragalus mongholicus assembly revealed 1,413 structural variations. Conclusions: This complete genome assembly of A. membranaceus represents a significant advancement in the genomic characterization of A. membranaceus, providing a robust resource that will bolster genetic research, breeding programs, and medicinal applications.

The long-term monocropping of red kidney beans in agricultural fields can lead to the occurrence of soil-borne diseases. Alterations in the composition of the soil microbial community are a primary cause of soil-borne diseases and a key factor in continuous cropping obstacles. Research exploring how different cultivation modes can modify the diversity and composition of the rhizosphere microbial community in red kidney beans, and thus mitigate the effects of continuous cropping obstacles, is ongoing. This study employed three cultivation modes: the continuous monocropping of red kidney beans, continuous monocropping of soybeans, and red kidney bean–soybean intercropping. To elucidate the composition and diversity of rhizosphere microbial communities, we conducted amplicon sequencing targeting the V3-V4 hypervariable regions of the bacterial 16S rRNA gene and the ITS1 region of fungal ribosomal DNA across distinct growth stages. The obtained sequencing data provide a robust basis for estimating soil microbial diversity. We observed that, under the intercropping mode, the composition of both bacteria and fungi more closely resembled that of soybean monocropping. The monocropping of red kidney beans increased the richness of rhizosphere bacteria and fungi and promoted the accumulation of pathogenic microorganisms. In contrast, intercropping cultivation and soybean monocropping favored the accumulation of beneficial bacteria such as Bacillus and Streptomyce, reduced pathogenic fungi including Alternaria and Mortierell, and exhibited less microbial variation across different growth stages. Compared to the monocropping of red kidney beans, these systems demonstrated more stable microbial structure and composition. The findings of this study will inform sustainable agricultural practices and soil management strategies.

The ABCB subfamily, a subset transporter of the ATP-binding cassette (ABC) superfamily, is vital for various plant life processes, especially in the transport of polar auxin and brassinosteroids. Although ABCB transporters have been characterized in diverse plant species, their specific functions in wheat remain largely unexplored. In this study, we identified 99 TaABCB members in wheat and categorized them into four groups based on their conserved domains and phylogenetic relationships. These members were found to be unevenly distributed across all 21 wheat chromosomes. We conducted a comprehensive genome-wide analysis encompassing gene structure, protein motifs, gene duplication events, collinearity, and cis-acting elements. Transcriptome analysis revealed that different TaABCB members displayed distinct expression patterns under phosphate starvation stress. Notably, we discovered that TaABCB7 might play a role in regulating wheat’s phosphate starvation. Crucially, we pinpointed an elite haplotype, H001, of the candidate gene TaABCB7, which has been progressively selected and employed in wheat breeding improvement programs. Overall, this study enhances our comprehensive understanding of TaABCB members and offers a potential gene resource for molecular marker-assisted selection breeding in wheat.

Lactic acid bacteria can colonize the gut, thereby regulating the gut microbiota and improving intestinal health. The study aimed to screen the suitable strains for Suanzhou fermentation and investigate their roles in the chicken gut in vivo. A total of 70 strains of lactic acid bacteria isolated from Suanzhou were characterized to determine their biofilm formation abilities. The strains with high-yielding biofilms were further characterized for their optimum growth temperature and pH, as well as antibacterial effects. Based on the results of biofilm formation, temperature and pH tolerance, and antibacterial effect experiments, two strains of h8-c and p15-c (Lactiplantibacillus pentosus) with high-yielding biofilms and better antibacterial effects were selected. By establishing a chick Lactobacillus feeding model and using high-throughput techniques to analyze the structure and diversity of the gut microbiota, we investigated changes in the diversity of gut bacteria, fungi, and archaea during and for three weeks after feeding with h8-c and p15-c. The results indicate that h8-c and p15-c may promote the intestinal colonization of lactobacilli, thereby balancing the gut microbiota and enhancing intestinal health in chicks. Furthermore, these strains provide excellent candidates for the industrial fermentation of Suanzhou.

The ABCB subfamily, a subset transporter of the ATP-binding cassette (ABC) superfamily, is vital for various plant life processes, especially in the transport of polar auxin and brassinosteroids. Although ABCB transporters have been characterized in diverse plant species, their specific functions in wheat remain largely unexplored. In this study, we identified 99 TaABCB members in wheat and categorized them into four groups based on their conserved domains and phylogenetic relationships. These members were found to be unevenly distributed across all 21 wheat chromosomes. We conducted a comprehensive genome-wide analysis encompassing gene structure, protein motifs, gene duplication events, collinearity, and cis-acting elements. Transcriptome analysis revealed that different TaABCB members displayed distinct expression patterns under phosphate starvation stress. Notably, we discovered that TaABCB7 might play a role in regulating wheat's phosphate starvation. Crucially, we pinpointed an elite haplotype, H001, of the candidate gene TaABCB7, which has been progressively selected and employed in wheat breeding improvement programs. Overall, this study enhances our comprehensive understanding of TaABCB members and offers a potential gene resource for molecular marker-assisted selection breeding in wheat.