Germination-induced nutrient remodeling in wheat: linking molecular structural changes to rumen microbial community dynamics and metabolic shifts

Germination triggered by prolonged rainfall at maturity or high moisture levels during storage poses a major limitation to the use of wheat in food processing. Germinated wheat, however, represents a viable feed resource for ruminants and an opportunity for biological resource reutilization. This study systematically evaluated the effects of different germination durations on wheat nutritional composition, molecular structure, and ruminal degradability under laboratory conditions, and examined t