Transcriptome analysis of spinach samples with varying 20E contents
This study aimed to identify oxidoreductase genes involved in biosynthesis of 20-hydroxyecdysone(20E) in spinach (Spinacia oleracea), a plant that contains high levels of 20E. To achieve this, spinach samples with varying 20E contents were generated: 20E-positive wild-type spinach, 20E-negative callus derived from spinach roots, spinach with an increased 20E content due to pds gene knockdown via the virus-induced gene silencing system, and its control, and then RNA sequencing (RNA-seq)-based comparative transcriptome analysis was performed.