RNA-seq analysis and reconstruction of gene networks involved in response to salinity stress in quinoa (cv. Titicaca)

Most studies on the effect of salinity on halophytes have been done using NaCl. This approach may not yield exhaustive information about the tolerance potential under field conditions, as soils contain various salts affecting germination and growth. Sea water is a mixture of salt solutions similar to saline soils and their synergism may affect seed germination. Due to potential of quinoa to grow under adverse conditions, sowing this plant in regions with saline water sources may be a good option.Development of high-throughput sequencing technologies enabled the researchers to use RNA-seq method to identify and compare the pattern of genes affecting salt tolerance and eventually, describe the molecular mechanisms of tolerance in plants. Network analysis is an efficient method to pool the experimental data resulted from different molecular levels with the total molecular data available. This method can help to investigate the identified candidate genes resulted from transcriptome studies in a network of molecular interactions. This issue makes it possible to have a more holistic view about the studied process .