RNA-seq of Norwegian spruce embryos exposed to gamma radiation

Conifers such as Picea abies (Norway spruce) are among the most radiosensitive plant species, yet the molecular impact of ionising radiation on their stem cells remains poorly understood. This study examines the transcriptomic response of embryogenic stem cells to gamma radiation, focusing on mechanisms that influence stem cell viability and maintenance of stemness. Clonal callus cultures were generated in vitro and exposed to chronic gamma radiation at dose rates of 1, 10, 20, 40, and 100 mGy h?¹ for 144 hours. Total RNA was extracted at the end of the exposure period from both irradiated and control samples. Strand-specific RNA sequencing was performed to quantify dose-dependent changes in gene expression. The dataset provides a resource for studying molecular responses to ionising radiation in conifers, with particular relevance to DNA damage repair, oxidative stress responses, chromatin modification, protein homeostasis, and hormone signalling pathways. This work contributes to understanding how ecologically and economically important tree species may respond to environmental radiation exposure at the cellular level.