Comparative proteomic and metabolomic studies between partial resistant and susceptible oil palm reveal the molecular mechanism associated with Ganoderma boninense infection

Knowledge of the plant proteins and metabolites synthesized in response to Ganoderma boninense infection of oil palm is useful for the development of planting materials resistant to the basal stem rot (BSR) disease. Breeding for disease-resistant oil palm progenies is an effective way of adapting to the spread of BSR. In this study, TUP 1281 and TUP 1309, partial resistant and susceptible oil palm progenies, respectively, were artificially inoculated with G. boninense. The molecular responses in the root and spear leaf tissues, following exposure to the fungus, were examined using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS)-based proteomics and metabolomics approaches. During infection, some of the most enriched pathways in the partial resistant progeny were the biosynthesis of unsaturated fatty acids (UFAs), the biosynthesis of secondary metabolites, and fatty acid metabolism and its elongation. Meanwhile in the susceptible progeny, the fatty acid elongation pathways were found to be reduced. Accumulation of chelidonic acid in both the partial resistant and susceptible oil palm progenies after inoculation was also observed, indicating the metabolite's involvement in response to G. boninense infection. Our results showed that the TUP1281 and TUP1309 possess distinctive proteins and metabolites that exhibit different biochemical responses, which could likely explain the resistance towards G. boninense.