Transcriptome analysis of Phoebe bournei seedlings to shade signals

Our study aimed to investigate the shade adaptive mechanism of a shade-tolerant plant Phoebe bournei (P. bournei) in various light or shade conditions as reflected by the ratio of red light to far-red light (R:FR), the seedlings of P. bournei were exposed to white light (control), R:FR=1.5 (mild shade), R:FR=0.9 (moderate shade) and R:FR=0.9 (heavy shade), and the transcriptomes in these groups were analyzed using RNA-seq technique. Our study will provide understanding on shade adaptive mechanisms of tree plants and theoretical basis for seedling breeding and natural forest regeneration.