title: Transcriptome sequencing and analysis of rubber tree (Hevea brasiliensis Muell.) to discover putative genes associated with tapping panel dryness (TPD).
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Tapping panel dryness (TPD) involves in the partial or complete cessation of latex flow thus seriously affect latex production in rubber tree (Hevea brasiliensis). Numerous studies have been conducted to define its origin and nature, but the molecular nature and mechanism of TPD occurrence remains unknown. This study is committed to de novo sequencing and comparative analysis of the transcriptomes of healthy (H) and TPD-affected (T) rubber trees to identify the genes and pathways related to the TPD.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Total raw reads of 34,632,012 and 35,913,020 bp were obtained from H and T library, respectively using Illumina Hiseq 2000 sequencing technology. De novo assemblies yielded 141,456 and 169,285 contigs, and 96,070 and 112,243 unigenes from H and T library, respectively. Among 73597 genes, 22577 genes were identified as differential expressed genes between H and T library via comparative transcript profiling. A majority of genes involved in natural rubber biosynthesis and jasmonate synthesis with most potential relevance in TPD occurrence were found to be differentially expressed.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In TPD-affected trees, the expression of most genes related to the latex biosynthesis and jasmonate synthesis was severely inhibited and is probably the direct cause of the TPD. These new de novo transcriptome data sets provide a significant resource for the discovery of genes related to TPD and improve our understanding of the occurrence and maintainace of TPD.
authors.affiliation: Hainan Key Laboratory for Sustainable Utilization of Tropical Bioresources, College of Agronomy, Hainan University, Haikou, Hainan Province, 570228, P. R China. liu3305602@163.com.
authors.forename: Jin-Ping
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: The Institute of Tropical Bioscience and Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Tropical Agricultural Sciences, Haikou, Hainan Province, 571101, P. R China. zqiangx@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Zhi-Qiang
authors.initials: ZQ
authors.lastname: Xia
authors.affiliation: Hainan Key Laboratory for Sustainable Utilization of Tropical Bioresources, College of Agronomy, Hainan University, Haikou, Hainan Province, 570228, P. R China. 824808734@qq.com.
authors.forename: Xiao-Yan
authors.initials: XY
authors.lastname: Tian
authors.affiliation: Service Center of Science and Technology, Rubber Research Institute Chinese Academy of Tropical Agricultural Sciences, Danzhou, Hainan Province, 571737, P. R China. lyjdezlyj@163.com.
authors.forename: Yi-Jian
authors.initials: YJ
authors.lastname: Li
mesh_terms: D003517:Cyclopentanes / Q000378:metabolism*; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling / Q000379:methods*; D018506:Gene Expression Regulation, Plant; D028482:Hevea / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D054883:Oxylipins / Q000378:metabolism*; D010935:Plant Diseases / Q000235:genetics; D010940:Plant Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis; D018749:RNA, Plant / Q000032:analysis; D012408:Rubber / Q000378:metabolism*; D017423:Sequence Analysis, RNA / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D003517:Cyclopentanes; D054883:Oxylipins; D010940:Plant Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D018749:RNA, Plant; C011006:jasmonic acid; D012408:Rubber