Gene Expression Atlas of Development in a Wild Apple Species

Understanding the processes that gives rise to tissues, organs and anatomy, and how these are genetically determined, is key to traditional and biotechnological engineering of agricultural plants for optimal 21^st-century production. Here, we present an ultra-high resolution analysis of development-associated gene expression in Malus fusca (Oregon crab apple), a potentially important resource for broadening the genetic base of commercial apple (Malus x domestica). A total of 82 parts including flower, fruit, and vegetative tissues, from field-grown and laboratory-cultivated plants, was analyzed. We identify gene expression patterns associated with juvenility, flower initiation and formation, transition to dormancy, fruit maturity, seed formation, embryogenesis, leaf expansion and senescence, and other agriculturally important developmental steps. In addition, the data reveal thousands of previously non-annotated transcriptional units and/or alternatively spliced forms of known genes. The 132 data sets produced in this analysis comprise over 1.5 billion individual sequence reads and 300 billion nucleotides, and thus represent one of the largest transcriptional analysis of plant development to date.

http://vannocke.hrt.msu.edu/DBI-0922447/plantgenome.html