Transcriptome profiles of high- and low-chalkiness rice grains across five developmental stages under heat stress

This study aims to decipher the transcriptional regulatory mechanisms underlying rice grain chalkiness formation under high-temperature stress. By performing transcriptome sequencing of grains from a high-chalkiness variety (ZZ35, HC) and a low-chalkiness variety (R1466, LC) across five critical developmental stages during grain filling, we systematically characterized the dynamic and distinctive gene expression patterns in response to heat between the two contrasting phenotypes. The research focused on identifying expression changes in genes involved in biological processes potentially linked to chalkiness, such as cell wall biosynthesis, starch metabolism, and stress response pathways. This dataset provides a comprehensive transcriptomic landscape of grain development under high temperature in varieties with divergent chalkiness traits, serving as a valuable resource for identifying key regulatory genes, elucidating molecular mechanisms, and informing genetic improvement strategies for heat-tolerant rice with optimal grain quality.