Modulated expression of ion transporters may be responsible for manganese deficiency in brittle leaf disease affected date palm (Phoenix dactylifera L.) trees

• Mineral analysis of MFC-affected date palm leaves and roots from three oases.
• Phylogenetic analysis of three metal transporter families in date palm.
• Comparative expression analysis of ion transporter genes.

Date palm (Phoenix dactylifera L.) is an economically important and widely cultivated palm from the Arecaceae family. In Tunisia, date orchards are being decimated by a disease called brittle leaf disease of unknown origin. In this study we carried comparative mineral element analysis in healthy and affected trees from three oases. The identification of three metal transporter families (NRAMP, ZIP and MTP), making use of whole genome sequences of date palm. We identified 32 gene models for the three ion transporter families. Phylogenetic analysis led to the identification of putative orthologs of Arabidopsis and rice landmark genes. The expression patterns of gene models from each family were investigated in brittle leaf disease affected date palm trees from the three investigated oases, results showed that the expression of putative manganese transporters was modulated by the disease and especially in affected roots.