Results for “Arecaceae”

PubMed2026

Graph-based pan-genome reveals structural and functional diversity across oil palm domestication gradients.

BACKGROUND: Oil palm (Elaeis guineensis Jacq.), the world's most land-efficient oil crop, underpins global vegetable oil supply yet faces mounting constraints from limited expansion, climate stress, and disease pressure. These challenges highlight the urgent need for genomic resources that capture species-wide diversity to support sustainable improvement. While recent reference assemblies have advanced trait discovery, single linear genomes fail to represent the full spectrum of structural and gene-content variation, limiting resolution of agronomic alleles. RESULTS: Here, we constructed a graph-based pan-genome from 30 diverse oil palm assemblies representing wild, semi-domesticated, and commercial accessions. We characterized structural variants, gene presence-absence variation, and copy-number gains, with focusing on functional stratification and resistance gene dynamics. The graph-based pan-genome revealed extensive structural and gene-content variation, including a large conserved core, complemented by shell and unique fractions enriched or biased toward regulatory, stress-responsive, and defense-related functions. Structural variation and duplication-derived copy-number gains contributed substantially to gene-content diversity, with semi-domesticated accessions exhibiting the greatest variability. Resistance gene repertoires showed contrasting patterns: receptor-like kinases remained comparatively stable, whereas the CNL subclass of NLR genes contributed disproportionately to shell-genome variation and duplication-associated turnover. CONCLUSIONS: This graph-based pan-genome provides a curated multi-assembly reference and comparative framework for oil palm genomics. By capturing structural variants, gene-content variations, copy-number gains, and resistance gene dynamics across domestication gradients, it establishes a foundation for future pan-GWAS analysis, functional genomics, and molecular breeding strategies aimed at improving resilience and productivity in this globally important crop.

Arecaceae↗

PubMed2026

Acrocomia aculeata (Mbokaja) Kernel Oil Inhibits Herpes Simplex Virus 1 Replication and Promotes Cutaneous Wound Healing in Infected Mice.

Background/Objectives: Herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) is a global and prevalent pathogen, presenting significant clinical challenges because of its recurring infections, the development of drug resistance and severe clinical complications. This study evaluated the antiviral efficacy against HSV-1 of Acrocomia aculeata (A. aculeata) kernel oil, a Neotropical palm native to the Americas. Methods: The chemical profile of A. aculeata kernel oil was determined by gas chromatography with flame ionization detection (GC-FID). Antiviral activity was assessed using dose-response curves, time-of-addition assays, and quantification of intracellular viral genomes, viral gene transcripts, and IL-6 expression. A. aculeata kernel oil's antiviral effect was also evaluated using an in vivo HSV-1 cutaneous infection model. Results: GC-FID analysis revealed lauric, oleic, and myristic acids as predominant components in the kernel oil. A. aculeata kernel oil exhibited potent antiviral activity against HSV-1. The oil inhibited HSV-1 early step post-entry, reducing the mRNA levels of the immediate-early genes ICP4 and ICP22, leading to the downregulation of early and late viral gene expression and intracellular viral genome. Furthermore, the oil suppressed IL-6 expression in infected cells. Importantly, A. aculeata kernel oil promoted the healing of cutaneous lesions in HSV-1-infected mice. Conclusions: These findings demonstrate that A. aculeata kernel oil is a promising candidate for developing novel antiviral and topical therapies against HSV-1.

Animals↗