Metabolomics Revealed the Differential Metabolites of Different Broomcorn Millet Varieties in Shanxi

Broomcorn millet is a kind of coarse grain crop that is beneficial to health. However, there is still a lack of systematic information support for metabolic research on its nutritional value. This study used widely targeted metabolomics to compare different broomcorn millet varieties (Yanshu No. 13, Yanshu No. 16, Jinshu No. 9, Jinshu No. 15, and Pingshu No. 9). A total of 1119 metabolites were identified among different varieties of millet, including 16 major categories such as phenols, alkaloids, and phenylpropanoids. The results showed that the main differential pathways among different broomcorn millet varieties included tryptophan metabolism, purine metabolism, and phenylalanine metabolism. The grain color among different varieties of broomcorn millet is related to β-carotene, glutathione, naringenin, and tryptophan metabolism. The abundance of various antioxidant compounds in colored broomcorn millet is higher than that in JSNO15. The accumulation of phenolic acids, flavonoids, and amino acids in different varieties of broomcorn millet varies significantly, which may be one of the reasons for the differences in broomcorn millet varieties. This study provides a theoretical basis for varietal breeding of broomcorn millet and the promotion of efficient utilization of broomcorn millet resources.