Molecular adaptation of sweet potato to Martian soil simulant: insights from mRNA and long non-coding RNA analyses

Authors

• Subramanyam Reddy Chinreddy
• Karthik Chinnannan
• Purushothaman Natarajan
• Vaibhavi Patel
• Gwonjin Lee
• Manohar Chakrabarti, The University of Texas Rio Grande ValleyFollow
• Padma Nimmakayala
• Umesh K. Reddy

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

4-16-2026

Abstract

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.

Comments

Copyright © 2026 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/

Recommended Citation

Chinreddy, Subramanyam Reddy, Karthik Chinnannan, Purushothaman Natarajan, Vaibhavi Patel, Gwonjin Lee, Manohar Chakrabarti, Padma Nimmakayala, and Umesh K. Reddy. "Molecular adaptation of sweet potato to Martian soil simulant: insights from mRNA and long non-coding RNA analyses." Journal of Advanced Research (2026). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jare.2026.04.050

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 International License.

Publication Title

Journal of Advanced Research

DOI

10.1016/j.jare.2026.04.050