Transcriptomic genotype-dependent response of Arundo donax L. under salt stress.

Arundo donax L. is one of the most promising bioenergy crop due to its high biomass yield and low irrigation requirement. The resistance to biotic and abiotic stress causes the high invasiveness of this plant, which can grow with very low management input (e.g., pesticides, fertilization, irrigation) even in marginal lands or in fields irrigated with waste or salty water. We report the leaf transcriptome sequencing, de novo assembly and annotation of a giant reed G34 genotype under salt stress. This genotype shows a different transcriptomic response to salinity compared to other A. donax genotypes. This finding was unexpected considering that the genetic variability of this species is supposed to be low due to its vegetative reproductive process. This study aims to direct future efforts towards the A. donax genetic improvement. Overall design: Examination of A. donax genotype (namely, G34) under one level of NaCl concentration (250 mM). The control sample is the G34 genotype under no NaCl addition. All the samples are in three biological replicates