RNA-sequencing enables the comprehensive detection of gene expression levels at specific time points and facilitates the identification of stress-related genes through co-expression network analysis. Understanding the molecular mechanisms and identifying key genes associated with salt tolerance is crucial for developing rice varieties that can thrive in saline environments, particularly in regions affected by soil salinization. In this study, we conducted an RNA-sequencing-based time-course transcriptome analysis of ‘Jao Khao’, a salt-tolerant Thai rice variety, grown under normal or saline (160 mM NaCl) soil conditions. Leaf samples were collected at 0, 3, 6, 12, 24, and 48 h. In total, 36 RNA libraries were sequenced. ‘Jao Khao’ was found to be highly salt-tolerant, as indicated by the non-significant differences in relative water content, cell membrane stability, leaf greenness, and chlorophyll fluorescence over a 9-day period under saline conditions. Plant growth was slightly retarded during days 3–6 but recovered by day 9. Based on time-series transcriptome data, we conducted differential gene expression and weighted gene co-expression network analyses. Through centrality change from normal to salinity network, 111 key hub genes were identified among 1,950 highly variable genes. Enriched genes were involved in ATP-driven transport, light reactions and response to light, ATP synthesis and carbon fixation, disease resistance and proteinase inhibitor activity. These genes were upregulated early during salt stress and RT-qPCR showed that ‘Jao Khao’ exhibited an early upregulation trend of two important genes in energy metabolism: RuBisCo (LOC_Os10g21268) and ATP synthase (LOC_Os10g21264). Our findings highlight the importance of managing energy requirements in the initial phase of the plant salt-stress response. Therefore, manipulation of the energy metabolism should be the focus in plant resistance breeding and the genes identified in this work can serve as potentially effective candidates.
