Data from: Small, but mitey: investigating the molecular genetic basis for mite domatia development and intraspecific variation in Vitis riparia using transcriptomics

Here, we investigated the molecular genetic basis of mite domatia,
structures on the underside of leaves that house mutualistic mites, and
intraspecific variation in domatia size in Vitis riparia (riverbank
grape). Domatia and leaf traits were measured, and the transcriptomes of
mite domatia from two genotypes of V. riparia with distinct domatia sizes
were sequenced to investigate the molecular genetic pathways that regulate
domatia development and intraspecific variation in domatia traits. Key
trichome regulators as well as auxin and jasmonic acid are involved in
domatia development. Genes involved in cell wall biosynthesis, biotic
interactions, and molecule transport/metabolism are upregulated in
domatia, consistent with their role in domatia development and function.
This work is one of the first to date that provides insight into the
molecular genetic bases of mite domatia. We identified key genetic
pathways involved in domatia development and function, and uncovered
unexpected pathways that provide an avenue for future investigation. We
also found that intraspecific variation in domatia size in V. riparia
seems to be driven by differences in overall leaf development between
genotypes.