Date Palm Bioinformatics

Abstract

The science of bioinformatics is emerging as a tool to understand genome sequences. In this chapter, compilation of the advances in various aspects of bioinformatics in date palm is attempted. Computational tools are useful in discovering new molecular markers, analyzing gene function, mutations, microRNAs and structural biology. In silico mined new molecular markers covering simple sequence repeat regions, single nucleotide polymorphism/insertion-deletion regions from date palm genome sequences are reviewed in detail. The in silico analysis of gene sequences and their promoter motifs of date palm genome is briefly described. The genes, promoters or genomic regions analyzed using bioinformatics approaches in date palm covered here include the traits of abiotic stress tolerance, sex determination, invertase enzyme activity and color of fruit peel, phytochelators and metal-responsive genes. MicroRNA molecules and their target genes in date palm predicted using computational approaches are discussed. Digital image analysis of fruits and seeds, structural biology, molecular modeling and docking studies attempted in date palm are also reviewed. The chapter gives a list of computational resources and tools useful for bioinformatics workers and date palm research. A road map is presented covering the role of future bioinformatics of date palm and comparative genomics of palms.