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Molecular adaptation of sweet potato to Martian soil simulant: insights from mRNA and long non-coding RNA analyses
Subramanyam Reddy Chinreddy1, Karthik Chinnannan1, Purushothaman Natarajan2
1Department of Biology, Gus R. Douglass Institute, West Virginia State University, Institute, WV 25112, USA.
Introduction:
Understanding how crops adapt to extraterrestrial environments is essential for sustainable space agriculture. Sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas), a nutritionally rich and stress-resilient crop, is a promising candidate for cultivation under Martian-like conditions, characterized by high salinity, heavy metal contamination, and poor water retention.
Objective:
This study aimed to elucidate the molecular mechanisms underlying sweet potato adaptation to Martian soil analog conditions using Mars Global Simulant-1 (MGS-1).
Methods:
Leaf, shoot, and storage root tissues of sweet potato grown in MGS-1 were subjected to RNA sequencing. Differentially expressed mRNAs and long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) were identified, and functional enrichment analyses were performed. Predicted trans-acting candidate lncRNAs were validated via virus-induced gene silencing (VIGS), with transcript levels confirmed by RT-qPCR.
Results:
Transcriptome profiling revealed 2,344 differentially expressed mRNAs and 172 lncRNAs, enriched in abiotic stress-related pathways including secondary metabolite biosynthesis, ROS detoxification, zeatin biosynthesis, cell wall remodeling, and membrane transport. Several lncRNAs were predicted to regulate stress-responsive genes, including Kunitz trypsin inhibitors, myo-inositol oxygenase, cytochrome P450s, and WRKY transcription factors. Notably, MSTRG.1111.1 and MSTRG.5653.1 were identified as trans-acting regulators of myo-inositol oxygenase and Kunitz trypsin inhibitor genes, respectively. VIGS and RT-qPCR confirmed their regulatory roles, with transcript downregulation ranging from 0.5- to 2.8-fold.
Conclusion:
This study provides the first comprehensive mRNA and lncRNA expression atlas of sweet potato under Martian soil analog conditions. The findings reveal key molecular pathways and lncRNA-mediated regulatory mechanisms for abiotic stress adaptation, highlighting sweet potato's potential as a resilient crop for future space agriculture.
