IGD: a multi-omics database for Ipomoea pes-caprae genomic and biological research

Ipomoea pes-caprae (IPC) is a perennial halophytic vine with remarkable salt and drought tolerance, playing a critical ecological and medicinal role in tropical and subtropical coastal ecosystems. Despite the availability of a high-quality chromosome-level reference genome and abundant transcriptome data, the absence of an integrated data platform has hindered in-depth functional gene discovery and genomic research in IPC. To address this gap, we developed the IPC Genome Database (IGD), the first comprehensive multi-omics database dedicated to IPC. IGD provides high-quality genomic sequences, gene structure annotations, and functional annotations, along with transcriptomic expression profiles under salt stress across different tissues. It also includes time-course expression data of roots and leaves under salt stress treatment, as well as leaf expression profiles under cold and heat stress conditions. The platform also integrates a suite of user-friendly, interactive bioinformatics analysis and visualization tools to facilitate efficient data exploration and functional mining. In particular, we established a specialized subset of stress-responsive genes to support rapid candidate gene screening and evolutionary analysis related to IPC’s salt and stress tolerance traits. By implementing automated data integration and quality control pipelines tailored for non-model species, IGD overcomes technical challenges such as fragmented data and delayed updates. As a centralized and scalable resource, IGD significantly lowers the barrier to functional genomics research in IPC and other halophytes, promoting their application in genetic improvement and ecological sustainability. In the future, IGD will continue to incorporate more omics data from halophytic species, further enhancing its value in salt tolerance research and molecular breeding efforts.