Comparative transcriptome analysis reveals key roles of scion-rootstock interactions in dwarfing phenotype of sweet orange grafted on 'Flying Dragon' rootstock.

Understanding the molecular mechanisms underlying Flying Dragon-induced dwarfing could inform the development of improved citrus rootstocks optimized for both size control and productivity. In this study, we performed a comparative transcriptome analysis of navel orange scions grafted onto Flying Dragon and the standard trifoliate rootstock Rich 16-6 to investigate the genetic basis of citrus dwarfing.Raw sequencing reads of Citrus sinensis (L.) Osbeck (navel scion) and C. trifoliata (L.), syn. Poncirus trifoliata (L.) Raf. (trifoliate rootstocks, Flying Dragon and Rich 16-6) are available.