Genome sequencing and assembly of Tinospora cordifolia (Giloy) plant

Abstract

During the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic Tinospora cordifolia also known as Giloy gained immense popularity and use due to its immunity-boosting function and anti-viral properties. T. cordifolia is among the most important medicinal plants that has numerous therapeutic applications in health due to the production of a diverse array of secondary metabolites. Therefore, to gain genomic insights into the medicinal properties of T. cordifolia, the first genome sequencing was carried out using 10x Genomics linked read technology and the draft genome assembly comprised of 1.01 Gbp. This is also the first genome sequenced from the plant family Menispermaceae. We also performed the first genome size estimation for T. cordifolia and was found to be 1.13 Gbp. The deep sequencing of transcriptome from the leaf tissue was also performed followed by transcriptomic analysis to gain insights into the gene expression and functions. The genome and transcriptome assemblies were used to construct the gene set in T. cordifolia that resulted in 19,474 coding gene sequences. Further, the phylogenetic position of T. cordifolia was also determined through the construction of a genome-wide phylogenetic tree using 35 other dicot species and one monocot species as an outgroup species.