Genomics@MetaBioSys

Amla Plant (Phyllanthus emblica)

Reference: Genome of Phyllanthus emblica: the medicinal plant Amla with super antioxidant properties. Shruti Mahajan, Manohar S. Bisht, Abhisek Chakraborty, and Vineet K. Sharma. Frontiers in Plant Science. 2023 (doi: https://doi.org/10.3389/fpls.2023.1210078)

Abstract: Phyllanthus emblica, commonly known as amla or Indian gooseberry, is an important medicinal horticultural plant used in traditional and modern medicines. It bears stone fruits rich in antioxidants, particularly vitamin C and flavonoids. This study presents the first genome sequencing of this species using 10x Genomics and Oxford Nanopore Technology. The draft genome assembly was 519 Mbp in size, consisting of 4,384 contigs, with an N50 of 597 Kbp, a BUSCO score of 98.4%, and 37,858 coding sequences. This study also reports the genome-wide phylogeny of P. emblica with 26 other plant species, resolving its phylogenetic position. The presence of three ascorbate biosynthesis pathways was confirmed, providing insights into antioxidant properties. A comprehensive comparative evolutionary genomic analysis, including gene family expansion and adaptive evolution, offers evolutionary insights into flavonoid biosynthesis pathways and stone fruit formation. The availability of this genome will benefit its horticultural, medicinal, dietary, and cosmetic applications.