Transcriptomic profiling of genes involved in flowering of Stevia rebaudiana

Stevia rebaudiana is a medicinal plant suggested as sucrose substitute ingredient in drinks as it lowers down the glucose level. It is recognized as zero calories sugar with 300 times sweeter than sugar cane. Stevia plant currently used as high non-nutritive high potency sweeteners. Research shows that stevioside level are the highest at the time of flower bud formation and lower at time preceding and following flower bud formation. Hence, the aim of this study is to identify gene involved in flowering of local S. rebaudiana accession MS 007 from transcriptomic data analysis. The analysis of transcriptomic data manages to annotate total of 103524 of expressed genes with 9832 genes was found in flowering sample and 8871 genes non-flowering sample. Amongflowering genes identified; PHYTOCHROME A (PHYA) genes, GIBBERELLIN (GA3) genes and LATE ELONGATED HYPOCOTYL (LHY) genes which involved in plant flowering pathway such as gibberellin signalling and circadian clock signalling pathway. The outcome of this study will help further study in manipulation of flowering process especially in increasing the yield of steviol glycosides during harvest process.