Exploratory analysis of salicylic acid responsive long non coding RNAs linked to abiotic stress-related pathways in Datura metel

Background: Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) act as key regulators of plant responses to abiotic stresses, such as drought, cold, heat, and salinity. In parallel, the exogenous application of certain chemical compounds has been shown to enhance plant stress tolerance, potentially through lncRNA-mediated regulatory pathways. Salicylic acid (SA) is a phytohormone involved in the regulation of plant responses to both biotic and abiotic stresses. This study reanalysed publicly available RNA-seq data to identify and characterize SA-responsive lncRNAs associated with abiotic stress tolerance in Datura metel , a medicinally important plant with limited genomic resources. Results: A total of 65,469 transcripts were classified as putative lncRNAs from control and SA-treated leaf transcriptomes. Comparative expression analysis identified subsets of lncRNAs and protein-coding genes showing distinct expression patterns between treatments. Functional annotation of protein-coding genes associated with these expression changes showed significant enrichment in stress-related processes, including responses to drought, salt, osmotic stress, and oxidative stress. Cis - and trans -target prediction analyses suggested potential regulatory associations between SA-responsive lncRNAs and these genes, many of which were involved in glutathione metabolism, abscisic acid signalling pathways, protein serine/threonine kinase activity, inositol metabolism, and antioxidant biosynthesis. Conclusions: This study provides a genome-wide catalogue of lncRNAs and their associated expression patterns in Datura metel in response to SA treatment. The findings offer an exploratory view of the potential role of lncRNAs in enhancing the plant’s tolerance to abiotic stresses. Although based on computational predictions and expression trends, these results highlight candidate stress-related lncRNAs that may serve as a valuable resource for future functional and experimental validation studies.