Molecular Population Genetics and Breeding Group, Temasek Life Sciences Laboratory, National University of Singapore, 1 Research Link, Singapore, 117604, Singapore.
Department of Biological Sciences, National University of Singapore, 14 Science Drive 4, Singapore, 117543, Singapore.
Sci Rep. 2020 Dec 4;10(1):21303. doi: 10.1038/s41598-020-78297-z.
Oil palm is the most productive oilseed crop and its oil yield is seriously affected by frequent drought stress. However, little is known about the molecular responses of oil palm to drought stress. We studied the root transcriptomic responses of oil palm seedlings under 14-day drought stress. We identified 1293 differentially expressed genes (DEGs), involved in several molecular processes, including cell wall biogenesis and functions, phenylpropanoid biosynthesis and metabolisms, ion transport and homeostasis and cellular ketone metabolic process, as well as small molecule biosynthetic process. DEGs were significantly enriched into two categories: hormone regulation and metabolism, as well as ABC transporters. In addition, three protein-protein interaction networks: ion transport, reactive nitrogen species metabolic process and nitrate assimilation, were identified to be involved in drought stress responses. Finally, 96 differentially expressed transcription factors were detected to be associated with drought stress responses, which were classified into 28 families. These results provide not only novel insights into drought stress responses, but also valuable genomic resources to improve drought tolerance of oil palm by both genetic modification and selective breeding.
油棕是产油量最高的油料作物，其产量受到频繁干旱胁迫的严重影响。然而，人们对油棕对干旱胁迫的分子响应知之甚少。我们研究了油棕幼苗在 14 天干旱胁迫下的根系转录组响应。我们鉴定了 1293 个差异表达基因（DEGs），这些基因参与了几个分子过程，包括细胞壁生物发生和功能、苯丙烷生物合成和代谢、离子运输和稳态以及细胞酮代谢过程，以及小分子生物合成过程。DEGs 显著富集到两个类别：激素调节和代谢，以及 ABC 转运蛋白。此外，还鉴定到三个蛋白质-蛋白质相互作用网络：离子运输、活性氮物种代谢过程和硝酸盐同化，它们参与干旱胁迫反应。最后，检测到 96 个差异表达的转录因子与干旱胁迫反应相关，这些转录因子被分类为 28 个家族。这些结果不仅为干旱胁迫反应提供了新的见解，而且为通过遗传修饰和选择性育种提高油棕的耐旱性提供了有价值的基因组资源。
