Enhancement of γ-aminobutyric acid and relevant metabolites in brown glutinous rice (Oryza sativa L.) through salt stress and low-frequency ultrasound treatments at pre-germination stage

Abstract

In order to fortify γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) of brown glutinous rice (BGR), pre-germination strategy was employed, and effects of low-frequency (28 kHz) ultrasound treatment combined with CaCl₂ stress on the sprout length, germination rate, morphology, color, water, total polyphenol content (TPC), starch, protein, GABA contents and relevant metabolites were investigated. The germination rate would be inhibited under CaCl₂ concentration ≥ 2.0 % during 24 h soaking without ultrasound treatment, and no significant difference was also observed combined with 9 h ultrasound treatment. Ultrasound treatment was beneficial to water absorption, TPC enrichment, energy metabolism, lipid metabolism and protein hydrolysis. Higher contents of GABA (3.29 folds), pyruvic acid (7.63 folds), glycerol (4.88 folds), glutamate (2.02 folds) and glucose (1.32 folds) were obtained due to the antagonistic effect between the 30 w ultrasound treatment and 2.0 % CaCl₂ stress at the 9 h pre-germination, and energy, lipid and protein metabolomic pathways were all involved in the GABA accumulation.

Keywords: Brown glutinous rice (BGR); Metabolites; Pre-germination; Salt stress; Ultrasound treatment; γ-Aminobutyric acid (GABA).