Genetic Engineering of Purslane (Portulaca oleracea L.)

Portulaca oleracea L., popularly known as purslane, is an herbaceous succulent plant classified as one of the most important invasive weeds in the world. Due to its high nutritional level and wide range of pharmacological effects, involving anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, antioxidant, and antiulcerogenic, purslane is one of the medicinal species listed by the World Health Organization. In addition, purslane produces several phytochemicals, including flavonoids, alkaloids, and terpenoids, which confer different pharmacological activities and make the plant highly attractive for use in the most diverse industries. It has high adaptability to extreme soil conditions, able to grow and spread in environments under drought stress, salinity, and poor nutrients; and has been presented as a potential model plant to study resistance to abiotic stresses. Among other purslane traits of interest to the agriculture sector, is worth to mention phytoremediation and allelopathy, thus being a sustainable alternative in organic agriculture. Here, we report a bibliometric analysis of purslane in vitro tissue culture and genetic modification/editing, and discuss opportunities and limitations to exploit the biotechnological potential of purslane as a source of valuable bio-molecules for many different industries.