Taxus cuspidata Transcriptome or Gene expression

This project sequences Taxus cuspidata to identify the genetic basis of the yellow-leaf phenotype in the cultivar Danjin. We generate high-throughput datasets from leaves of two cultivars, Danjin (yellow) and Dongbei (green), with four biological replicates per cultivar, and apply genome- and transcriptome-level analyses to discover causal variants and expression changes. Candidate genes will be prioritized through variant calling, differential and allele-specific expression, and pathway enrichment focused on chlorophyll and carotenoid metabolism, plastid development, and light signaling. The results will pinpoint markers and genes underlying leaf color, provide a reusable genomic resource for T. cuspidata, and support breeding, conservation, and functional studies of pigment regulation.