title: RNA-seq of zea mays: ear
design: An inbred line of maize with shade-sensitive characteristics, 502, was selected from the local Chinese germplasm, Tangsipingtou . In spring 2012, the inbred line was evaluated under shading and natural light treatments, at the farms of Henan Agricultura University. plants were planted in a 3.5 m high isolation chamber, and shaded from 7 days before tasseling, for 10 days. Shading was with black polypropylene fabric with 50 % light penetration. Ear samples from each treatment were collected on the tenth shaded day.