Genome wide identification of long noncoding RNAs responsive to Lasiodiplodia theobromae infection in grapevine

Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) refer to a class of RNA molecules that are longer than 200 nucleotides and can not encode proteins. Numerous lncRNAs have recently emerged as important regulators of many biological processes in animals and plants. Botryosphaeria dieback is one of the more severe grapevine trunk diseases worldwide. However, how lncRNAs function during Botryosphaeriaceae infection is largely unknown. We performed high throughput RNA-seq sequencing of grapevine samples infected with Lasiodiplodia theobromae. Overall, we predicted 1,826 novel candidate lncRNAs, including long intergenic ncRNAs (lincRNAs) and natural antisense transcripts (lncNATs). The data reveal the functions of a set of lncRNAs that were di?erentially expressed between the resistant cultivar Merlot and the susceptible cultivar Cabernet Franc. Several lncRNAs were predicted to be precursors or endogenous target mimics for grape microRNAs involved in the L. theobromae infection. These results provide new insight into the lncRNAs of grapevine that are involved in the response to L. theobroma infection.