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Abstract Detail



Comparative Genomics/Transcriptomics

Devitt, Jessica [1], Schenk, John J. [2].

De Novo Transcriptome Assembly and Annotation of Mentzelia Section Bartonia (Loasaceae).

Despite the potentially lethal consequence of drought stress, some plants thrive in arid regions that experience annual drought. Plants have evolved multiple adaptive responses to arid environments, including metabolic, cellular, and physiological processes, in order to cope with the stress of limited water. Responses to drought stress are likely regulated through gene expression, which can vary across species due to evolutionary history, morphological adaptations, and the position along the cascade of drought responses. Species of Mentzelia section Bartonia (Loasaceae) are a good example of plants that thrive in arid habitats; however, we know very little about how they deal with drought stress. Species have morphological adaptations associated with living in arid environments that include leaves with reduced surface area and high trichome density; however, nothing is known about how these plants physiologically cope with drought stress, or the genetic responses that regulate the responses. Measuring the differences in gene expression in Mentzelia will give insight into how they are able to tolerate stressful environments. Before we are able to measure the level at which genes are being differentially expressed when the plants are exposed to drought conditions, we need to have a baseline understanding of what genes are typically expressed when the plants are not stressed. In this study, we generated a reference transcriptome of Mentzelia. We extracted RNA from plantlet, leaf, stem, root, flower, and fruit tissues. cDNA libraries from the RNA samples were sequenced on an Illumina NextSeq and the RNA-Seq data were analyzed using the Trinity package of tools and annotated using Trinotate. Once the transcriptome is fully assembled and annotated, it will serve as a reference transcriptome for a differential gene expression study that explores the genetic responses to drought.


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1 - Georgia Southern University, Biology, 4324 Old Register Road, P.O. Box 8042-1, Statesboro, GA, 30460, USA
2 - Georgia Southern University, Department of Biology, 4324 Old Register Road, Biological Sciences Building, Statesboro, GA, 30458, United States

Keywords:
Differential gene expression
drought
Mentzelia
next generation sequencing
RNA-Seq
Transcriptome.

Presentation Type: Poster
Session: P, Comparative Genomics and Transcriptomics
Location: Exhibit Hall/Omni Hotel
Date: Monday, June 26th, 2017
Time: 5:30 PM This poster will be presented at 5:30 pm. The Poster Session runs from 5:30 pm to 7:00 pm. Posters with odd poster numbers are presented at 5:30 pm, and posters with even poster numbers are presented at 6:15 pm.
Number: PGT001
Abstract ID:205
Candidate for Awards:Genetics Section Poster Award


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