The Role of Noncoding RNAs in the Response of Oil Palm Plants to Abiotic Stresses

Abstract

The genus Elaeis comprises two species, E. guineensis Jacq. and E. oleifera (Kunth) Cortés, which are known as the African and the American oil palms, respectively. The African oil palm originated from West Africa and is the predominant species in commercial plantations. This oilseed crop is the number one source of consumed vegetable oil in the World. Several abiotic stressors affect the plant life cycle interfering with growth and productivity. Salinity and drought are abiotic stresses that affect plantations on all continents, resulting in the loss of billions of dollars annually. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small endogenous noncoding RNAs that impact almost all biological processes, affecting either the transcriptional or posttranscriptional regulation of gene expression. Here we describe the R&D initiatives on oil palm miRNAs, highlighting the current knowledge on miRNAs’ involvement in oil palm response to abiotic stress and postulating possible miRNA-based strategies for the genetic improvement of oil palm salinity and drought stresses tolerance.