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BACKGROUND: Foxtail millet grain has higher folate content than other cereal crops. However, the folate metabolite content and the expression patterns of folate metabolite‐related genes are unknown. RESULTS: Liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry was used to investigate 12 folate metabolites in a foxtail millet panicle. The content of total folate and derivatives gradually decreased during panicle development. Polyglutamate 5‐formyl‐tetrahydrofolate was the major form. Twenty‐eight genes involved in the folate metabolic pathway were identified through bioinformatic analysis. These genes in Setaria italica, S. viridis and Zea mays showed genomic collinearity. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that the folate‐related genes were closely related among the C4 plants compared to C3 plants. The gene expressions were then studied at three panicle development stages. The gene expression patterns were classified into two groups, namely SiADCL1 and SiGGH as two key enzymes, which are responsible for folate synthesis and degradation; their expression levels were highest at the early panicle development stage, up to 179.11‐ and 163.88‐fold, respectively. Their expression levels had a similar downward trend during panicle development and were significantly positively correlated with the concentration of total folate and folate derivatives. However, SiSHMT3 expression levels were significantly negatively correlated with total folate concentration. CONCLUSION: Besides being the major determinants of folate and folate derivatives accumulation, SiADCL1 and SiGGH expression levels are key limiting factors in the foxtail millet panicle. Therefore, SiADCL1 and SiGGH expression levels can be targeted in genetic modification studies to improve folate content in foxtail millet seeds in the future. © 2021 Society of Chemical Industry [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUD: Volatile terpenes can act as ecological signals to affect insect behavior. It has been proposed that the manipulation of terpenes in plants can help to control herbivore pests. In order to investigate the potential pest management function of (E)‐β‐caryophyllene in cotton plants, the (E)‐β‐caryophyllene synthase gene (GhTPS1) was inserted into Gossypium hirsutum variety R15 to generate overexpression lines. RESULTS: Four GhTPS1‐transgenic lines were generated, and GhTPS1 expression in transgenic L18 and L46 lines was 3‐5‐fold higher than in R15 plants. The transgenic L18 and L46 lines also emitted significantly more (E)‐β‐caryophyllene than R15. In laboratory bioassays, L18 and L46 plants reduced pests Apolygus lucorum, Aphis gossypii and Helicoverpa armigera, and attracted parasitoids Peristenus spretus and Aphidius gifuensis, but not Microplitis mediator. In open‐field trials, L18 and L46 plants reduced A. lucorum, Adelphocoris suturalis and H. armigera, but had no significant effects on predators. CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest that L18 and L46 plants reduce several major hemipteran and lepidopteran cotton pests, whereas, two parasitoids P. spretus and A. gifuensis, were attracted by L18 and L46 plants. This study shows that overexpressing GhTPS1 in cotton may help to improve pest management in cotton fields. © 2019 Society of Chemical Industry [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]