Comparative transcriptome analysis of three endemic medicinal Veratrum species from Yunnan, China: V. taliense, V. mengtzeanum, and V. stenophyllum

The genus Veratrum (family Melanthiaceae) includes several toxic but pharmacologically important plants used in traditional Chinese medicine, particularly in Yunnan Province, for treating hypertension, convulsions, and inflammatory disorders. Their therapeutic effects are primarily attributed to steroidal alkaloids, yet the genetic mechanisms underlying their biosynthesis remain largely uncharacterized in many endemic species.This project reports de novo transcriptome sequencing of three Yunnan-endemic Veratrum species: Veratrum taliense (collected from Dali), Veratrum mengtzeanum (from Mengzi), and Veratrum stenophyllum (from high-altitude habitats). Total RNA was isolated from root and leaf, and paired-end libraries were sequenced on the Illumina NovaSeq 6000 platform. The resulting transcriptomic resources will enable comparative gene expression analysis, identification of candidate genes involved in steroidal alkaloid biosynthesis, and support molecular authentication of these morphologically similar species. All data will be made publicly available to advance research in medicinal plant genomics, natural product discovery, and conservation of Yunnan's unique herbal biodiversity.