Time-course transcriptomic information unravels the adaptation strategies of Nicotiana tabacum to drought stress through altered root system architecture
This study investigates the time-course adaptation strategies of two Nicotiana tabacum varieties, ZC208 (drought-tolerant) and ZY100 (drought-sensitive), in response to different levels of drought stress. Root samples were collected at five time points (0, 14, 21, 28, and 35 days after the initiation of water treatments) to analyze physiological, morphological, and transcriptomic changes. RNA-Seq was performed on 60 root samples to identify differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and explore the dynamic molecular mechanisms underlying drought adaptation. The dataset includes gene expression profiles, time-course expression patterns (STEM analysis), and co-expression networks (WGCNA) associated with root system architecture (RSA) parameters. This transcriptomic information provides insights into the regulatory pathways, such as plant hormone signaling, phenylpropanoid biosynthesis, and starch/sucrose metabolism, involved in tobacco drought tolerance.