RNA-Seq data analysis reveals various viral sequences associated with genome of date palm (Phoenix dactylifera)

Abstract

Abstract RNA-Seq data analysis can provide an unlimited contribution in increasing our knowledge in viruses and their interaction with the hosts. In current study, transcriptomic analyses of 20 publicly libraries of date palm (P. dactylifera) fruit was conducted for identification the associated plant viruses. Although, the group of viruses Grapevine leafroll-associated virus (GLRaV) and Pittosporum cryptic virus-1 (PiCV-1) have been identified previously, another thirty-seven different plant viruses have been discovered through the detection of partial nucleotide sequences of their RdRp and Replicase genes via a workflow analysis developed in this study. The viral sequences detected were almost identical (100%) at the nucleotide level with numerous viral isolates deposited at GenBank. However, very rare viral infection has been reported previously on P. dactylifera trees. Thus, an investigation for determining virome of the date palm tree is demanded.