Abstract
To understand the molecular processes triggered during the different steps of somatic embryogenesis (SE) in oil palm, the expression of 19 genes associated to SE identified in proteomic and transcriptomic studies was investigated by qRT-PCR. To evaluate the differential expression of these genes, two interspecific hybrid genotypes (Elaeis oleifera x Elaeis guineensis) contrasting for the acquisition of embryogenic competence were used. Aclorophyllated leaves of both hybrids, one responsive (B351733) and the other non-responsive (B352933) to SE were submitted to callus induction and collected at different time points: 0 (before induction), 14, 30, 90 and 150 days of callus induction (doi). The results obtained showed that all evaluated genes were downregulated at 14 doi in the responsive genotype when compared to the non-responsive. It was also possible to observe that most of the genes changed their expression behavior at 30 doi and were upregulated thereafter until 150 doi, with the exception of the pathogenesis-related PRB1-3-like (PRB1-3) gene, which did not show differential expression at 30 doi and was downregulated at 90 and 150 doi when compared to the non-responsive hybrid. These results indicate that 30 doi is a turning point in gene expression, probably associated to embryogenic competence acquisition. We also show that the expression behavior of the responsive genotype is more stable than that of the non-responsive when the different induction time points are compared to 0 doi (before induction). Moreover, the results obtained in this study corroborate our hypothesis that the regulation of genes involved in the control of oxidative stress and energy metabolism are crucial for the acquisition of embryogenic competence in oil palm.
Highlights
Oil palm is an important crop in the tropics [1] that produces two oils of great economic importance, commonly known as palm oil and palm kernel oil, obtained from the mesocarp and endosperm, respectively [2]
To understand the biological processes in which the 19 genes selected for analysis are involved, a gene ontology (GO) search was performed and revealed important roles related especially to stress responses, defense responses, energy metabolism and development (Table 2)
The results showed that overall the evaluated genes were downregulated at 14 doi and upregulated from 30 doi to 150 doi when the R genotype was compared with the NR genotype
Summary
Oil palm is an important crop in the tropics [1] that produces two oils of great economic importance, commonly known as palm oil and palm kernel oil, obtained from the mesocarp and endosperm, respectively [2]. Changes of gene expression during somatic embryogenesis in oil palm had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript
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