title: Regulation, evolution, and functionality of flavonoids in cereal crops.
abstract: Flavonoids are plant secondary metabolites that contribute to the adaptation of plants to environmental stresses, including resistance to abiotic and biotic stress. Flavonoids are also beneficial for human health and depress the progression of some chronic diseases. The biosynthesis of flavonoids, which belong to a large family of phenolic compounds, is a complex metabolic process with many pathways that produce different metabolites, controlled by key enzymes. There is limited knowledge about the composition, biosynthesis and regulation of flavonoids in cereals. Improved understanding of the accumulation of flavonoids in cereal grains would help to improve human nutrition through these staple foods. The biosynthesis of flavonoids, scope for altering the flavonoid composition in cereal crops and benefits for human nutrition are reviewed here.
authors.affiliation: Triticeae Research Institute, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu-Wenjiang, 611130, Sichuan, China, zehouliu@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Zehou
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Yaxi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Zhien
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Pu
authors.forename: Jirui
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Youliang
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zheng
authors.forename: Yanhong
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Yuming
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Wei
mesh_terms: D053898:Biosynthetic Pathways; D005419:Flavonoids / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D006801:Humans; D060847:Metabolic Engineering; D006109:Poaceae / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D005419:Flavonoids