Abstract: In order to cultivate the innovation ability of college students, an innovation experiment was designed based on an innovation training program of college students, namely, analysis of small and medium molecule metabolites in the process of maize seed germination. Gas chromatography mass spectrometry technology was used, combined with partial least squares discriminant analysis, to determine the medium and small molecule metabolites of corn seed germination and differential metabolites. The results showed that in the process of maize seed germination, there were different metabolites including 15 species, among which were 6 kinds of organic acid, 4 kinds of amino acids, 1 carbohydrate and its derivatives and 4 other compounds. By the practice, the students mastered the frontier field of differential metabolite analysis in the process of maize seed germination, stimulated their innovative thinking and expanded their scientific horizon. In addition, the innovative experiment integrated instrumental analysis, plant physiology, and biostatistics and improved students’ experimental skills and deepened their understanding of theoretical knowledge.

Key words: innovation training program of college students, gas chromatography mass spectrometry technology, design experiment, differences metabolites, bioinstrumentation