From genes to metabolites: a multi-omics exploration of drought tolerance and seed oil quality in diverse Moringa

This is a comprehensive analysis of the Moringa plant, an understudied highly versatile tree the "drumstick tree" or "miracle tree". Firstly, transcriptome assemblies of 4 Moringa stenopetala, 1 Moringa peregrinna and 44 Moringa oleifera and a comparative analysis of these transcriptomes revealed valuable insights into the plant's population structure and genetic diversity. A comprehensive RNA-Seq revealed 19,325 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) across 49 co-expression modules, reflecting a complex transcriptional response to drought. Key genes related to drought stress, including SAG12 and Vignain, were identified alongside their varying expressions across plant tissues, suggesting tissue-specific responses. Co-expression analysis identified certain genes as prospective master regulators in the drought-responsive network of Moringa oleifera. Functional analysis via BLASTx revealed its top hit to Carica papaya gene LOC110809083, Carica papaya gene LOC110810283, CAK9329279.1 Citrullus colocynthis, XP_030952457.1 Quercus lobata, and LOC110821448 Carica papaya gene, respectively, indicating their possible role in ion transport, homeostasis, cell wall remodelling, glucose transport, and photoreactive repair through DNA and FAD binding activity during drought stress. Additionally, the study explored Moringa seed oil profiles and genetic markers (SNPs) linked to oil quality traits, providing insights into breeding for superior edible and industrial oil lines. The transcriptomic analysis provides 49 Moringa de novo assemblies, good foundational resources for understanding Moringa's adaptability to drought whilst contributing to food security. Overall, this research presents Moringa as a versatile crop for sustainable agriculture, with potential applications in food security, nutraceuticals and biofuel production.