<i>De novo</i> transcriptome sequencing of genome analysis provides insights into <i>Solidago canadensis</i> invasive capability via photosynthesis

<i>Solidago canadensis</i> is one of the most destructive invasive plants in the East of China, yet nothing is known about its photosynthetic ability at the molecular level. In order to examine the mechanism aiding invasion from the photosynthetic and molecular perspective, transcriptome sequencing and <i>de novo</i> assembly of <i>S. canadensis</i> and its congener <i>S. decurrens</i> (native, non-invasive species) were compared in a bioassay experiment. Results showed that <i>S. canadensis</i> has higher biomass and net photosynthetic rates than those of the native plant, <i>S. decurrens</i> (<i>P </i>&lt; 0.05). Based on RNA-seq data, the genes which are closely related to light absorption and electron transfer in <i>S. canadensis</i> were observed to be up-regulated compared with those from <i>S. decurrens</i>, including the process of photosystems I and II, such as <i>PsbP</i>, <i>PsbQ</i>, <i>Psb27</i>, <i>PsbW</i>, <i>PsaG</i>, <i>PetE</i>, and light-harvesting complexes (LHCs). The RT-qPCR verification results of key genes were similar to those from transcriptome. Therefore, our results might partly explain the successful invasion of <i>S. canadensis</i> in China at the level of transcriptome, leading to its enhanced photosynthetic capability.