A transcriptomic analysis reveals diverse regulatory networks that respond to cold stress in strawberry

This study identified attractive candidate genes and revealed diverse regulatory networks that responded to cold stress in strawberry (Fragaria×ananassa) by a transcriptomic analysis. Totally, there were 2 398 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) under cold-stress treatment (T1) vs. normal treatment (CK). Of these, 1 180 DEGs were upregulated, while 1 217 DEGs were downregulated. Functional enrichment analysis showed that DEGs were significantly (adjusted P value < 0.05) overrepresented in six pathways including plant hormone signal transduction, flavonoid biosynthesis, Mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling, starch and sucrose metabolism, circadian rhythm, alpha-Linolenic acid metabolism. The cold signaling initiated expression of downstream cold responsive (COR) genes with cis-acting element-ABRE or CRT/DRE in ABA-independent or ABA-dependent pathway to impel plant defense against the stress. Strikingly, GIGANTEA (gene id 101308922), two-component response regulator-like PRR95 (gene id 101295449), ethylene-responsive transcription factor ERF105-like (gene id 101295082) were dramatically induced under low temperature treatment, indicating they played an important role in response to cold stress in strawberry.