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: Broomcorn millet (Panicum miliaceum L.), a drought-tolerant C4 crop, is crucial for agricultural resilience in arid regions. Lipoxygenases (LOXs), key enzymes in plant stress responses, have not been studied in broomcorn millet. This study aimed to identify LOX genes in broomcorn millet and elucidate their role in drought tolerance. Methods: We employed bioinformatics and physiological analyses to identify LOX genes in broomcorn millet. Expression profiles were assessed in different organs, and drought stress responses were evaluated in tolerant (HSZ, YXDHM) and sensitive (YS10) varieties. Antioxidant enzyme activities (SOD, POD, CAT) and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels were measured. Results: Twelve LOX genes were identified, classified into three subfamilies, and mapped across seven chromosomes. These genes contained stress-responsive cis-elements and showed organ-specific expression, with PmLOX5 exhibiting no detectable expression. Under drought stress, tolerant varieties showed elevated antioxidant activities and reduced MDA accumulation. PmLOX2, a homolog of Arabidopsis AtLOX1/AtLOX5, was significantly induced in tolerant varieties, correlating with enhanced antioxidant capacity and reduced oxidative damage. Conclusions:PmLOX genes, particularly PmLOX2, play a pivotal role in drought tolerance by modulating ROS scavenging and membrane protection. This study provides a foundation for leveraging LOX genes to improve drought resilience in broomcorn millet and related crops.

Heterotrimeric GTP-binding proteins, commonly known as G proteins, act as core molecular switches in plant signal transduction, governing multiple biological processes including plant growth, development, phytohormone signaling, and abiotic stress adaptation. In this study, a total of 12 G-protein-related genes were identified in foxtail millet, consisting of six Gα subunit-encoding genes, one Gβ subunit-encoding gene, and five Gγ subunit-encoding genes. Gene structure and conserved motif analyses showed that members classified into the same subunit clade possessed highly conserved exon–intron organization and motif distribution, indicating evolutionary structural conservation within each G-protein subfamily. Promoter Cis-acting element analysis revealed that all G-protein family genes harbored light-responsive elements, as well as multiple regulatory elements associated with phytohormone signaling and abiotic stress responses. Transcriptome analysis showed that different G-protein genes exhibited distinct expression patterns under salt stress. Notably, SiαXLG2 exhibited drastically induced expression upon salt stress, which serves as a pivotal candidate gene for salt-stress response in foxtail millet. Collectively, this study provides a systematic characterization of the G-protein gene family and offers candidate gene resources for further elucidating G-protein-mediated salt-stress regulatory mechanisms in foxtail millet.

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.