Dioscorea polystachya tuber transcriptome of two tuber shape variants

Two different tuber shape variants of clonal origin were compared by RNAseq. The variant F60 has a thin and long shape, the variant F2000 (which derived from F60 upon vegetative selection for several decades) has a thicker and shorter tuber shape. Both tuber variants were divided into a head, middle and tip region. 3 biological replicates of each tissue are provided in the data set. In the corresponding study, differentially expressed genes between the tuber shape variants were identified that are potentially involved in tuber shaping in yam. Shorter and thicker tubers are advantageous for easier harvest of the deep growing tubers. Thus, our results are of agronomic relevance for yam breeding approaches.