IISER Bhopal researchers conduct first genome sequencing of jamun

A team, led by Dr Sharma, has published its findings in the journal Frontiers in Plant Science. Syzygium cumini, more commonly known as jamun, is a Myrtaceae plant family tropical tree.

Fruit seed extracts of jamun have well-known anti-diabetic properties and is highly recommended in Ayurveda to treat a variety of health ailments.

To understand the genomic and evolutionary basis of the tree’s medicinal values, the research team sequenced the S.cumini genome using Oxford Nanopore and 10x Genomics sequencing technologies.

Jamun is the largest genome to be sequenced from the Syzygium genus. “Taken together, it is tempting to speculate that the adaptive evolution of major plant secondary metabolism pathways in S. cumini species confers unprecedented antidiabetic, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and other pharmacological properties of this tree.

Further, the whole genome sequence of S. cumini will facilitate future genomic, evolutionary, and ecological studies on the world’s largest tree genus,” Dr Sharma said.

The jamun genome has a higher number of coding genes resulting from gene duplication events compared to the other two sequenced species from this genus, which point towards a neopolyploidy event in the jamun species.

This duplication of genes can allow jamun to acquire novel functions. Analyses revealed the key genes involved in facilitating the adaptive evolution of jamun. Among these, 14 genes allow for the biosynthesis of terpenoids, which are a diverse class of metabolites responsible for plant defense responses. These also contribute to the anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.

To fully explain the anti-diabetic properties of this plant, the researchers discovered the presence of glucosides, another class of metabolites that prevent the conversion of starch into sugar, and explain how the plant possesses anti-diabetic value.

Jamun has various genes that make the plant rugged and improve its stress tolerance to factors like weeds and insects that induce damage, heat stress, salinity, and drought. This points to remarkable adaptive evolution in jamun.