Oil palm transcriptome profile during early interaction with necrotrophic Ganoderma boninense

Basal stem rot (BSR) is a devastating disease in oil palm caused by Ganoderma boninense. Characterization of defense settings during early interaction with G. boninense is important. Oil palm (Elaeis guineensis) seedlings were artificially infected with G. boninense inoculums and total RNA samples following time-course of 0, 3, 7, 11 days-post-inoculation (d.p.i) were extracted and used for high-throughput RNASeq analysis. Counter-attack was evidenced based on fungal hyphae and Ganoderma DNA observed at 3 d.p.i that reduced significantly at 7 and 11 d.p.i. Multifaceted defense responses were observed based on tremendous upregulation of pathogenesis-related protein 1-like (EgPR-1), Glu S. griseus protease inhibitor protein (EgBGIA), germin-like protein (EgGLP), peroxidase (EgPER) and downregulation of GDSL esterase/lipase (EgGLIP) expression. Growth was compromised through suppression of auxin signalling. Later stage involved highly expressed EgERF113 and EgMYC2 transcription factors as potential regulators of necrotrophic defense.