Transcriptome Profiling of Eggplant root Under Salt Stress

Abstract Background Roots are the initial organs to perceive and adaptively adjust when confronted with salt stress. However, the mechanisms underlying salt stress tolerance in the roots of eggplant remained elusive. We performed transcriptome sequencing on the roots of eggplant under 150 mM NaCl treatment. Results The results indicated that a total of 3491 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified. Gene Ontology analysis revealed that oxidoreductase activity, catalytic activity, and microtubule-based process were the most enriched terms among the DEGs. Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes analysis revealed that Pentose and glucuronate interconversions and Phenylpropanoid biosynthesis pathways were the most enriched pathways among the DEGs. A pectinesterase (PME)-associated PMEs/PMEIs module may positively participate in the salt tolerance. Conclusions Taken together, this study provided candidate genes linked to salt tolerance in eggplant roots, offering a foundation for further in-depth study of resistance mechanisms and supporting the development of novel salt-tolerant eggplant varieties with genetic resources and technologies.