Journal of Oil Palm Research Vol. 32 (3) September 2020, p. 377-393

OIL PALM ETHYLENE RECEPTOR GENE FAMILY: IDENTIFICATION, CHARACTERISATION AND EXPRESSION ANALYSIS

NURNIWALIS ABDUL WAHAB*; CHAN KUANG LIM*; ZUBAIDAH RAMLI*; ROZANA ROSLI*; FADILA AHMAD MALIKI*; MOHAMAD ARIF ABD MANAF*; JEREMY ROBERTS** and FESTO MASSAWE‡

DOI: https://doi.org/10.21894/jopr.2020.0043
Published Online: 29 July 2020
ABSTRACT

The ethylene receptor family is the first component of the ethylene signaling pathway to trigger the plant’s response towards ethylene and consequently affect plant growth and developmental processes. In oil palm (Elaeis guineensis Jacq.), an ethylene receptor gene has been isolated and characterised. However, the full information about the gene family is unavailable. Thus, in this study, we focused on the identification, isolation and characterisation of the ethylene receptor gene family from oil palm. A total of seven genes were identified, isolated and characterised using a combination of in silico bioinformatics tools and experimental insights. Structural comparison and phylogenetic analyses showed the genes are classified into two subfamilies. Subfamily I consists of three members whereas subfamily II has four members. Expression analyses of the ethylene receptors in various oil palm tissues suggested multiple roles of the ethylene receptors in regulating many processes in oil palm growth and development such as fruit growth, ripening and abscission and flower development. Therefore, all together, these results will be beneficial to further investigate the functions of ethylene and the potential use of the genes to manipulate ethylene responses in oil palm for yield improvement.

KEYWORDS:


* Malaysian Palm Oil Board, 6 Persiaran Institusi, Bandar Baru Bangi, 43000 Kajang, Selangor, Malaysia.
E-mail: nurni@mpob.gov.my

** Office of Vice Chancellor, University of Plymouth, Drake Circus, Plymouth, Devon PL4 8AA, United Kingdom.

‡ School of Biosciences, University of Nottingham Malaysia, Jalan Broga, 43500 Semenyih, Selangor, Malaysia.