Multi-omics reveals sesame seed coat development stages

Researchers at the institution associated with Pan Zeng, Shixiang Li, Xiaowen Yan, Junchao Liang, Zhiqi Wang, and Jian Sun have published a study in BMC Plant Biology that provides an integrated multi-omics characterization of sesame seed coat development. The study, published on November 7, 2026, addresses a gap in the understanding of the dynamic developmental process of the seed coat in Sesamum indicum L., an important oilseed crop. While the seed coat is known to play critical roles in seed protection, maturation, and quality formation, its specific developmental progression had remained poorly understood until this investigation.

The research team employed a combined approach using metabolomic, proteomic, and transcriptomic analyses to investigate the seed coat development. To ensure the samples represented distinct phases of growth, the researchers first conducted morphological and histological observations. These observations identified a clear developmental progression divided into three main phases: early structural formation from 5 to 15 days after pollination (DAP), structural consolidation from 15 to 25 DAP, and maturation accompanied by extensive intracellular accumulation from 25 to 40 DAP. Based on these characteristics, seed coats were collected at 10, 20, 30, and 40 DAP for the subsequent multi-omics analysis.

Metabolomic analysis revealed dynamic metabolic changes across these developmental stages. Lipid metabolism was prominent during the early development stage, whereas amino acid metabolism and secondary metabolite biosynthesis were associated with later developmental stages. Additionally, antioxidant-related pathways, particularly ascorbate and aldarate metabolism, were consistently enriched throughout the entire seed coat development process.

Proteomic analysis provided further insight into the molecular changes occurring during development. The study found that most differentially expressed proteins (DEPs) were downregulated. The enrichment patterns of these proteins shifted over time: at the early developmental stage, RNA processing and lipid biosynthesis were enriched; at the middle developmental stage, translation and redox metabolism were prominent; and at the late developmental stage, energy metabolism and protein processing became the key enriched functions.

Transcriptomic analysis indicated that hormone signaling, carbon metabolism, and secondary metabolite biosynthesis were associated with seed coat development. By integrating the metabolome with the transcriptome and the metabolome with the proteome, the researchers identified glyoxylate and dicarboxylate metabolism as a metabolic pathway potentially associated with seed coat development.

Furthermore, the study utilized weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) to integrate transcriptomic and metabolomic data. This analysis identified the green module (MEgreen), which contained candidate genes potentially associated with metabolic changes during seed coat development. The identification of these candidate genes provides valuable resources for further investigating the molecular mechanisms underlying sesame seed coat development. The study concludes that the integrated multi-omics characterization reveals developmental stage-specific changes in metabolites, proteins, and transcripts, offering a detailed map of the biological processes involved.

Subject of Research: Multi-omics analysis of sesame seed coat development

Article Title: Integrated multi-omics analysis provides insights into sesame seed coat development

Article References: Zeng, P., Li, S., Yan, X., Liang, J., Wang, Z., & Sun, J. (2026). Integrated multi-omics analysis provides insights into sesame seed coat development. BMC Plant Biology. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12870-026-10372-5

Image Credits: AI Generated

DOI: 10.1186/s12870-026-10372-5

Keywords: sesame, seed coat, multi-omics, metabolomics, proteomics, transcriptomics, plant development, oilseed crop, BMC Plant Biology, Integrated, analysis, provides