Post Doctoral Research Associate West Virginia State University Dunbar, West Virginia
Body of Abstract: The impact of the Mars environment on plant growth, yield, and nutritional parameters is mainly unknown. Hence, the present study assessed the growth, biochemical, and molecular behavior of Ipomoea batatas (L.) under the Mars simulant soil (MGS–1). In this study, MGS–1 exposure significantly reduced the growth and yield parameters of I. batatas; but increased the level of stress markers such as total proline and ascorbic acid by 46.3 and 28.90%, respectively. Regarding nutrient parameters, exposure to MGS–1 significantly increased fructose by 87.43%, sucrose by 86.66%, and glucose by 22.68% at 75% exposure to MGS–1. Interestingly, vines of I. batatas accumulate more micronutrients than storage roots. Results of amino acid profiling revealed that the exposure of MGS–1 markedly increased the quantity of various amino acids such as Arginine, Asparagine, Glycine, Histidine, Proline, Threonine, Tryptophan, and Valine in the storage roots. Further, the candidate genes responsible for the adaptation and proliferation of I. batatas under MGS–1 exposure and its molecular regulation mechanisms through the lncRNA–miRNA regulatory network were identified. The results here constitute a valuable resource for a comprehensive understanding of the significant factors impacting the growth of plants on MGS–1.