Tissue and Developmental Transcriptome Differences in Strawberry Revealed with Next-Generation Sequencing

Transcriptome assessment using next-generation sequence platforms permits large-scale qualitative and quantitative measures of gene expression in various tissues or following specific treatments. Activities in our laboratories have surveyed strawberry (Fragaria x ananassa) transcripts across wide treatments and conditions, tissues and developmental timelines.  The results not only provide an accounting of strawberry transcripts, they also uncover instances of tissue-specific expression.  Transcripts specific to developing fruit have been identified and include a suite of transcripts with known roles in flavor and firmness.  A large set of hypothetical proteins has been uncovered and are being functionally evaluated in transgenic systems.  Unintendend consequences of the study have identified transcripts expressed at high levels in all tissues, making them useful reference genes for expression analyses. Potential pests and pathogens were also revealed from next generation sequencing.  This study uses massive transcriptome sequencing as a stepping-off point to in planta functional evaluation and high resolution studies of gene expression regarding traits of horticultural interest.