Integrated Metabolomics and Principal Component Analysis Uncover Boron-Driven Responses in Groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.)

The strategic application of micronutrients, particularly boron, plays a pivotal role in modulating key metabolic pathways and enhancing physiological traits that contribute to crop productivity. This study investigates the biochemical and physiological responses of groundnut variety Kadiri Lepakshi K1812 to foliar boron application using an integrated approach involving Gas Chromatography–Mass Spectrometry, metabolic pathway enrichment and Principal Component Analysis. Gas Chromatography–Mass Spectrometry profiling at 54 days after sowing identified 43 metabolites among 159 components including amino acids, fatty acids, sugars and secondary metabolites. Boron application enhanced the accumulation of metabolites such as myo-inositol, succinic acid and ferulic acid, which are associated with improved osmotic adjustment, antioxidative defence, carbon and nitrogen metabolism and cellular energy status. Metabolic pathway enrichment analysis revealed significant upregulation of the tricarboxylic acid cycle, amino acid biosynthesis, phenylpropanoid pathway and glycolysis, indicating a coordinated metabolic reprogramming that supports higher energy production, stress resilience and efficient nutrient assimilation. Along with principal component analysis further confirmed that boron-treated plants exhibited distinct separation from the control, with the first two principal components explaining 97.19% of total variation, primarily driven by enhanced chlorophyll content, dry matter accumulation, plant nutrient uptake and pod yield of groundnut. The findings suggest that boron facilitates increased photosynthetic efficiency, carbon partitioning and enhanced source-sink dynamics, which collectively contribute to improved biomass yield and yield attributes of groundnut. This multilayered analysis underscores the role of boron in driving metabolic and physiological enhancements that translate into superior groundnut productivity, offering valuable insights for sustainable crop management.