Salt-induced transcriptome changes in the semi-mangrove plant Pongamia pinnata

In the present study, we initiated a comprehensive transcriptome analysis in P. pinnata by employing the Illumina sequencing platform. We collected RNA from P. pinnata root and leaf samples at several time points during salt treatments and generated a combined transcriptome with a large number of unisequences. By comparing the transcript levels between the samples treated with freshwater and seawater, we singled out differentially expressed genes as candidate salt-responsive genes and carried out RT-PCR and real-time PCR experiments on some selected candidates. Consequently, the characteristics of the transcriptome changes under salt stress in P. pinnata were generalized, and their possible correlations with salt tolerance were discussed.