Pineapple Mint Genome Sequenced

Researchers have successfully decoded the genome of the pineapple mint (Mentha suaveolens), a herb highly valued for its distinct aroma and medicinal properties.

The genus Mentha, commonly known as mint, comprises several strongly scented herb species of the family Labiatae.

This versatile plant contains a diverse array of components, such as essential oils and non-essential compounds, rendering it suitable for a wide range of potential applications.

Mentha essential oil has a long history of medicinal use as a digestive aid and analgesic. It possesses various biological activities (e.g. antioxidant, antibacterial, antiradiation, anticancer, and hypotensive).

The pineapple mint is the cultivated variegated form of apple mint.

It grows as a wild plant worldwide, and is widely used in the medical field owing to its numerous therapeutic properties.

“Despite its importance, understanding the genetic basis of these traits has been challenging due to the complexity of the Mentha genome, characterized by high heterozygosity and numerous structural variations,” said Dr. Chi Song from the Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine and colleagues.

“A comprehensive study of the Mentha genome was essential to uncover the genetic factors influencing its unique characteristics.”

In the study, the researchers successfully generated the first high-quality, haplotype-resolved genome assembly for the pineapple mint, with a genome size of 414.3 Mb and 31,251 coding genes.

By integrating data from various sequencing platforms, they resolved two complete haplotypic assemblies, each nearly fully annotated for telomeres and centromeres.

Notably, they revealed 41,135 structural variations, including deletions, insertions, duplications, and translocations, many of which impact genes involved in terpenoid biosynthesis.

One significant finding is the predominance of piperitenone oxide among the volatile compounds produced by the pineapple mint, as opposed to menthol, which is more common in other Mentha species.

The authors identified three genes encoding isopiperitenone reductase (ISPR), a key enzyme in menthol biosynthesis, but found that their low transcription levels likely lead to the accumulation of piperitenone oxide instead.

“The completion of the gap-free genome for Mentha suaveolens represents a significant milestone in plant genomics,” Dr. Song said.

“This comprehensive genetic map provides a foundation for exploring the molecular mechanisms underlying the unique properties of pineapple mint, which could lead to innovative applications in medicine and agriculture.”

The results was published in the journal Horticulture Research.

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Hanting Yang et al. 2024. A haplotype-resolved gap-free genome assembly provides novel insight into monoterpenoid diversification in Mentha suaveolens ‘Variegata.’ Horticulture Research 11 (3): uhae022; doi: 10.1093/hr/uhae022