A Multidimensional Approach to Cereal Caryopsis Development: Insights into Adlay (Coix lacryma-jobi L.) and Emerging Applications

Adlay (<i>Coix lacryma-jobi</i> L.) stands out as a vital health-promoting cereal due to its dual nutritional and medicinal properties; however, it remains significantly underdeveloped compared to major crops. The lack of mechanistic understanding of its caryopsis development and trait formation severely constrains targeted genetic improvement. While transformative technologies, specifically micro-computed tomography (micro-CT) imaging combined with AI-assisted analysis (e.g., Segment Anything Model (SAM)) and multi-omics approaches, have been successfully applied to unravel the structural and physiological complexities of model cereals, their systematic adoption in adlay research remains fragmented. Going beyond a traditional synthesis of these methodologies, this article proposes a novel, multidimensional framework specifically designed for adlay. This forward-looking strategy integrates high-resolution 3D phenotyping with spatial multi-omics data to bridge the gap between macroscopic caryopsis architecture and microscopic metabolic accumulation. By offering a precise digital solution to elucidate adlay's unique developmental mechanisms, the proposed framework aims to accelerate precision breeding and advance the scientific modernization of this promising underutilized crop.