Moringa oleifera, known for its nutritional and therapeutic properties, exhibits a complex relationship with its rhizospheric soil microbiome. This study aimed to elucidate the microbiome's structural composition, molecular functions, and its role in plant growth by integrating Clusters of Orthologous Genes (COG) analysis with enzymatic functions previously identified through KEGG, CAZy, and CARD databases. Metagenomic sequencing and bioinformatics analysis were performed from the rhizospheric soil microbiome of M. oleifera collected from the Mecca district in Saudi Arabia. The analysis revealed a role for the rhizospheric microbiome in energy production, storage, and regulation, with glucose serving as a crucial precursor for NADH synthesis and subsequent ATP production via oxidative phosphorylation. Key orthologous genes (OGs) implicated in this process include NuoD, NuoH, NuoM, NuoN, NuoL, atpA, QcrB/PetB, and AccC. Additionally, OGs involved in ATP hydrolysis, such as ClpP, EntF, YopO, and AtoC, were identified. Taxonomic analysis highlighted Actinobacteria and Proteobacteria as the predominant phyla, with enriched genera including Blastococcus, Nocardioides, Streptomyces, Microvirga, Sphingomonas, and Massilia, correlating with specific OGs involved in ATP hydrolysis. This study provides insights into the molecular mechanisms underpinning plant–microbe interactions and highlights the multifaceted roles of ATP-dependent processes in the rhizosphere. Further research is recommended to explore the potential applications of these findings in sustainable agriculture and ecosystem management.

Catharanthus roseus has various terpenoid indole alkaloids (TIAs) with adaptive mechanisms to withstand both biotic and abiotic stresses. We investigated the effects of methyl jasmonate (MeJA) on alternative splicing (AS) mechanisms in C. roseus to identify differentially expressed alternatively spliced (DAS) genes following MeJA treatment. We found pairs of co-expressed splicing factors (SFs) and DAS genes and potential roles of co-expressed SFs in the maturation of their respective transcripts. Twenty two clusters encompassing 17 MeJA-responsive DAS genes co-expressed with 10 SF genes. DAS genes, C3H62, WRK41, PIL57, NIP21, and EDL6, exhibited co-expression with the SF genes SR34a, DEAD29, SRC33, DEAH10, and DEAD29, respectively. These gene pairs are implicated in plant developmental processes and/or stress responses. We suggest that MeJA activates the expression of genes encoding SFs that are regulated in tandem with their co-expressed DAS genes and MeJA may enhance the regulatory frameworks that control splicing mechanisms, resulting in the generation of specific mRNA isoforms. This triggers the expression of particular DAS gene variants to allow the plant to effectively respond to environmental stimuli and developmental signals. Our study advances our understanding on how MeJA modulates alternative splicing in C. roseus, potentially influencing various aspects of plant physiology and metabolism. It is recommended that future studies focus on validating the functional relationships between the identified SF/DAS gene pairs and their specific roles in plant development and stress responses, and exploring the potential of manipulating these splicing mechanisms to enhance the production of valuable TIAs in C. roseus.

We aimed to identify the genes encoding predominant KEGG enzymes within the rhizospheric soil fungiome of Moringa oleifera. We also aimed to uncover how the rhizospheric fungiome drives intricate biochemical networks that bolster soil health, plant vitality, nutrient cycling, metabolic efficiency and resilience to environmental stress. These findings offer valuable insights that could enhance the efficacy of innovative agricultural practices. Previous research has focused on the role of soil microbiomes, including both bacteriomes and fungiomes, in the ecological dynamics of native and cultivated plants. The rhizospheric fungiome plays a critical role in plant health by suppressing pathogens, decomposing plant residues and facilitating nutrient assimilation in various environmental conditions. Fungal taxa from the phylum Mucoromycota, including Rhizophagus, Mucor ambiguus, Phycomyces blakesleeanus, Mortierella elongata, Absidia glauca, Mucor circinelloides and the taxon Basidiobolus meristosporus from Zoopagomycota, were identified as primary hosts of Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG)-enriched enzymes in the rhizospheric soil of M. oleifera. These enzymes participate in crosstalk pathways within KEGG categories such as ‘Metabolism’, ‘Genetic Information Processing’, and ‘Environmental Information Processing’. These fungal enzymes contribute to the biosynthesis of critical metabolites, including carbamoyl-P, lipoyllysine, acetyl-CoA, isoleucine, valine and nucleotides (dADP, dGDP, dCDP, dUDP) that are essential for cellular functions such as DNA repair, replication and transcription. The symbiotic relationship between these enzymes and plant roots regulates nitrogen levels in the rhizosphere and supports mitochondrial stability. Metabolites also aid in cellular development, membrane metabolism, plant signal transduction and energy metabolism, including fueling the citric acid cycle. Our findings highlight the potential of crosstalking pathways in the rhizospheric fungiome of M. oleifera to enhance energy metabolism and maintain plant cell integrity. We propose that this research can serve as a foundation for advancing sustainable agricultural practices.

Context: This investigation elucidates the genetic heterogeneity and phylogenetic affinities among eight cultivars of Catharanthus roseus, focusing on petal color and morphological variations. Aims: The primary objective was to elucidate the genetic disparities and evolutionary trajectories among these cultivars, thereby augmenting our comprehension of their genomic architecture and phylogenetic lineages. Methods: The genomic DNA of the cultivars underwent sequencing, assembly, and annotation utilizing the bioinformatic tools NOVOPlasty and GeSeq. Key results: Results showed minimal plastome size variation among cultivars (154,928 bp to 155,066 bp). Group 1 cultivars (1, 6, 8) had elongated petals, whereas Group 2 (2, 3, 4, 5, 7) had broader, orbicular petals. Sequence analysis showed significant variations in photosynthesis-related genes, with distinct single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) frequencies and insertion/deletion (Indel) patterns between groups. The examination of codon usage and simple sequence repeat (SSR) biomarkers did not yield significant contributions to understanding the speciation process. Phylogenetic relationships were determined using DNA barcoding and key plastid markers (matK, rbcL, trnL). The trnL gene effectively clustered cultivars by petal morphology. Phylogenetic trees showed close genetic relationships within the same tribe, with C. roseus being genetically distinct from other species. Conclusions: This study has provided comprehensive chloroplast genome assemblies for C. roseus cultivars, advancing our understanding of their genetic diversity and phylogenetic relationships. Implications: The findings enhance our comprehension of speciation mechanisms within the Apocynaceae family and offer important insights for the refinement of taxonomic frameworks, contributing to a deeper evolutionary perspective on the diversification of C. roseus and related species.