Vigna unguiculata transcriptome under heat stress

This data aimed to identify changes in the expression levels of photosynthetic genes in cowpea when subjected to a controlled heatwave. Our main focus was Rubisco activase (Rca), a molecular chaperone of Rubisco required for its remodelling to facilitate release of bound inhibitors. Rca is known to be thermolabile and a limiting factor for photosynthesis during heat stress impacting plant growth and yield. Cowpea, an important food source for sub-Saharan Africa, is susceptible to heat stress despite being adapted to growing in warm environments. In this study, cowpea plants (IT97K-499-35) were grown in controlled environment cabinets at 28 day/18 night degrees for 13 days. Half of the plants were then transferred at 34 day/24 night degrees for a day and then to 38 day/28 night degrees for five days. Leaf samples (n=4 per treatment/day) were collected four hours into photoperiod on days 1, 3 and 5 of the heatwave. Plants were well watered throughout the heatwave to exclude drought effect. RNA was extracted from leaf samples and sent for sequencing.