Transcriptome analysis of gemma initiation stages in Marchantia polymorpha

In vegetative reproduction of Marchantia polymorpha, propagules, called gemmae, are formed in gemma cups. The gemma cup formation and gemma initiation are regulated by the MpKAI2-dependent signaling pathway through the degradation of a suppressor protein, MpSMXL. Gemma initiation that started in the young gemma cups was stopped in the wild-type old gemma cups, whereas continued in the Mpsmxl mutants. To identify genes involved in gemma initiation downstream of the KAI2-dependent signaling, we performed transcriptome analysis comparing Day 3 and Day 14 gemma cups of wild type, and Day 14 gemma cups of wild type and an Mpsmxl mutant by RNA-seq using MGISEQ-2000 platform.